Reliance Foundation Youth Sports’ Seventh Season Kicks Off Today in Mizoram, Chennai, and Kerala

by Sakshi Bhosale November 18, 2024

India’s leading grassroots football tournament RFYS expands with new age categories U-7, U-9, U-11 and U-13 for both boys and girls.

Mizoram, 18^th November 2024: The seventh season (2024/25) of Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS), India’s leading age-group football tournament focused on grassroots and youth development, kicks off on November 18, 2024. This season will feature competitions across nine age categories for boys and girls, including newly introduced (U-7, U-9, U-11, and U-13) categories. RFYS aims to provide young athletes a structured pathway to hone their skills and build India’s footballing future.

Organized by Reliance Foundation, the CSR arm of Reliance Industries Ltd., RFYS offers high-level competition and enhanced playing time, while prioritizing inclusivity and growth in women’s football. This season will span more than 24 districts nationwide, covering regions identified for their football potential and engaging schools, clubs, and academies to strengthen India’s football ecosystem.

Talking about the upcoming season, Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, Defender, Indian Women’s National Football Team said, “Women’s football has seen incredible growth in participation in recent years, with the numbers increasing every season. Initiatives like Reliance Foundation Youth Sports are a significant step forward for grassroots football in India, providing equal opportunities for both boys and girls. With the introduction of new age categories, it is creating a pathway for the next generation to dream big and start early. It gives me joy to see the increased competitive game time for girls each season, as it will contribute to building a larger pool of talent for the national team. RFYS is a key vital initiative, and it’s inspiring to see more girls embracing the sport.”

RFYS is deeply committed to the idea of providing India’s young footballers with a high level of competition as well as increased playing time while making increased participation and representation of women a key priority.

Some of the key highlights of this season are as follows:

a.      Creating a structured pathway from U-7 to U-19: RFYS is introducing five new categories this year for both boys and girls by having U-7, U-9, U-11 and U-13 categories in addition to the U-15, U-17 and U-19 categories to provide a clearly structured pathway for India’s aspiring footballers.

b.      Focus on talent hotspots: RFYS will cover more than 24 districts spanning across the length and breadth of the country that have been identified after extensive research as the areas with the most potential to produce quality Indian footballers.

c.       Extensive scouting system: RFYS has also put in place a thorough scouting setup that will see information about the most talented players being shared with over 75 clubs and academies in India to give the players the best chance of achieving their dream of becoming a professional football player.

The U-7 to U-13 categories will see teams play more than 20 matches, while the corresponding number will be around 10-12 matches on an average for the U-15 to U-19 age groups. RFYS will be working in close collaboration with state Football Associations and clubs across the country and will partner with them to further strengthen the ecosystem.

Apart from the above, there will be exclusive workshops and training sessions to upskill match officials as well as coaches who are a part of the tournament that will be held through the course of the season.

Launched in 2016, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) aims to transform grassroots sports in India by providing a structured competition platform for schools and colleges. Since its inception, RFYS has been a stepping stone for young athletes to showcase their talents, with alumni such as Melroy Assisi, Hira Mondal, Makan Winkle Chote, Gurnaj Singh Grewal, Sivasakthi Narayanan, Shilky Devi Hemam, and Mariyammal Balamurugan progressing to professional contracts with Indian Super League and I-League teams, and some representing India internationally. Supported by coaches, players, educational institutions, clubs, academies, and state federations, RFYS is instrumental in nurturing talent and advancing Indian football across all levels.

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