I have asked the chairman of the B&DYL to give some clarification with regards to the taped off area that has been introduced and this was his response. Please read this as we all have to adhere to it as it is for the welfare of the players that this was introduced.
Thanks in advance for your co-operation
Peter
It has been well documented that three years ago the Blackpool and District Youth Football League were invited to attend a meeting with FA and LFA officials with reference to behaviour in youth football at the Lancashire FA headquarters. League officials in attendance where from as far a field as Cumbria to Surrey. From the forum it was obvious the FA were concerned by the increasing problems being caused by parents in youth football.
Two Leagues’ in the Lancashire area were invited to join a pilot scheme orchestrated by the FA and the LFA. As you know the Blackpool and District Youth Football League pilot scheme was to introduce a registration form that can be used as a template for all Leagues and the form to incorporate a ‘code of conduct’.
Our League as attended a number of meetings at LFA headquarters with regards to behaviour in youth football and finally a meeting this month along with a presentation.
The Wigan Leagues’ pilot was barrier posts again a number of meetings took place at LFA headquarters and finally this month a meeting along with their presentation. Eight Leagues’ were present from as far a field as Cumbria to Cheshire, out of those Leagues’ six took a pledge to introduce barrier posts the others would take the information back to their Management.
The Chair of the meeting was David Wilson, Chairman of LFA Youth, the General Secretary of the LFA David Burgess and Roger DeNobrega, Senior Football Development Officer along with other officials of the LFA.
It was reported that barrier posts may become mandatory by season 08-09, if not, certainly by 09-10. This will be an LFA directive in conjunction with the FA.

Where possible barrier posts with tape or rope will be placed along both sides of the pitch between one or two metres from the side line, from six yard box to six yard box, with parents, supporters on both sides and coaches managers between the barrier posts and side line. This is possible to achieve with the majority of pitches in the Blackpool and Fylde area. Where it is not possible or practicable the parents, guardians, supporters will be behind the barrier posts on one side of the pitch and the coaches on the other side of the pitch.

When a parent or guardian signs a registration form on behalf of the child he or she becomes a member of that club so therefore shall adhere to that clubs’ rules and of course to the Leagues’ rules his or her child plays in.
If a player’s parent or guardian enters the field of play without the consent of the referee or team official this can invoke the ‘child protection policy’. Barrier posts will certainly be a deterrent for this to happen. Also discussed was the possibility of not allowing parents, guardians and supporters from standing behind the goal. This can be seen as threatening to the younger age groups who play in youth football.
It was with this in mind the Blackpool and District Youth Football League introduced this scheme earlier rather than later and before it becomes mandatory.

Clubs need to address and positively promote this policy for the welfare of youth football.

Regards,
Dennis