Separates flag, touch and tackle through contact level, safe technique and child choice.
It supports the child; it never ranks, selects or predicts talent.
Equal pathways
01 · Choose your view
Historical early-childhood age reference; actual placement uses developmental observation.
Running, throwing, catching and changing direction; Confidence and free play.
Family
02 · Competency progression
Discusses effort, enjoyment and small progress before results.
Discusses effort, enjoyment and small progress before results.
Discusses effort, enjoyment and small progress before results.
Discusses effort, enjoyment and small progress before results.
Discusses effort, enjoyment and small progress before results.
03 · Session builder
A learning- and enjoyment-led session adapted to the child's needs.
04 · Play and competition context
Risk: Recurring pain, rapid growth, sleep disruption, fear or declining enjoyment.
Action: Stop load progression, record a safety observation and speak with the child.
Refer to an appropriate health professional if symptoms persist and await explicit clearance to return.
Risk: Unsafe adult conduct, bullying, privacy violations or coercion.
Action: Safely remove the child and start the dedicated safeguarding incident workflow.
Escalate to the safeguarding lead and, when required, authorities according to P0–P4 triage.
Risk: Tackle contact without readiness, technique, equipment or qualified supervision.
Action: Lock the tackle pathway while keeping flag/touch available.
It does not open without current local rules, qualified coaching, a health plan and board approval.
Risk: Head impact, symptoms or suspected concussion.
Action: Remove immediately, no same-day return, and create an incident record.
Current clinical protocol and graduated return clearance are required.
05 · Evidence and governance
Sport for Life · 2019 · Internationally adaptable
Development is a child-centred long-term process and is never reduced to chronological age.
Official sourceFootball Canada · 2009 · Canada
The document's stages, competencies and stakeholder structure shape the candidate sport pack.
Canadian Sport for Life · 2013 · Canada / locally adaptable
Families receive clear actions, cautions and conversation prompts at every stage.
Çocuk Gelişim · 2026 · Türkiye
Pain, rapid growth, fatigue, sleep disruption or declining enjoyment stop load progression.
Çocuk Gelişim Ürün Güvenliği · 2026 · Türkiye
Children are never ranked by sport suitability, talent or potential scores.
Football Canada · 2009 · Canada
Old age, session, duration, match or competition volumes are historical context only.
Football Canada · 2026 · Canada
The pack's current framework and pathways are checked against the official federation source.
Official sourceTwo-gate governance
Personal enrolment and locked numeric rules remain unavailable until independent Science Board and Field Board approvals are complete.