AIFF announce U-13 League from 2017-18 to strengthen youth development

THE AIFF Executive Committee today decided to introduce an U-13 League to put further emphasis on youth and grassroot development.

The new league - open to all I-League clubs (both divisions), ISL franchises and academies for participation - will join the U-15 and U-18 leagues as premier competitions budding footballers can test themselves and display their skills.

The U-13 League will hold its first edition in 2017-18, becoming the latest major event to take place in Indian football during that season along with the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the introduction of a re-structured domestic league system at the senior level.

At a time when youth development in Indian football is picking up pace (the number of teams in the U-18 league just got bumped from 29 to 40), the U-13 League can come to play a crucial role in directing the clubs to expand the operations of their academies and cause them to reach out to players at a much younger age, eventually leading to a new generation of footballers who are technically more sound than the present crop due to prolonged exposure to proper training, guidance and up-to-date facilities.