From next season, there are three changes on how youth football is run. If your league or club runs teams from Mini-Soccer age to under-18, it is now an FA requirement for a Welfare Officer to be in place to be able to affiliate your league or club for the 2008-09 season.

The introduction of the ruling also means completing an FA Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) application on the Officer. Making an appointment is not a huge job. Once in place, Cornwall FA provides full training and offers ongoing guidance, advice and sharing of best practice.

Cornwall FA's Youth Secretary David Bray says, "So don't risk your league or club losing their affiliation - if you haven't started already, start taking steps today to get a Welfare Officer in place. We have a booklet which answers commonly-asked questions, outlines what the role involves, the type of people who might be interested, and where to get further advice. "

Another major change which has been agreed at The FA is the age when youngsters can start to play in matches. Children must be 8 years old at 31st August to be able to play in a league. This means where scores are recorded and a table of teams kept. Players who are under-7 and under-8 can play friendly matches against other teams in the same league but scores and points must not be recorded.

The final change concerns who can play in matches with more than seven players a side. From next season a child who is not 10 years old as at midnight on 31st August is not allowed to play in a match between sides of more than seven players in that playing season. Those children who are younger than ten years old as described can only play in a match according to the Laws of the Game - Mini Soccer' or in other formats of small sided football approved by The FA. The rule was previously age nine.