Inaugural Singapore Youth League kicks off from 24th February 2024

The inaugural Singapore Youth League (SYL) is set to kick off on the 24^th of February and will feature over 200 teams across six age-groups. Co-organised by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and Sport Singapore (SportSG), the league was officially launched in the presence of the participating clubs and academies on Tuesday evening (6 February) at the National Stadium.

Photo credit: Unleash The Roar! / Facebook

The SYL is an initiative under the ‘Unleash the Roar!’ (UTR) national football project and aims to provide youth players with a competitive platform to gain match experience during their developmental years. An estimated 3,800 youth players are expected to compete in about 1,100 matches per season.

Speaking at the event, FAS President Bernard Tan said, “If Singapore is to have a footballing future, it is clear that the fundamental thing we need is a structured development system for our children that will bring them to greater heights.” He added that the SYL is built on “five key pillars – regular matches, competition at the right level, emphasis on development over results, inculcation of sporting values, and inclusivity.”

According to the FAS, the SYL follows a programming matrix which ensures that each age group plays the recommended required number of games for the continued development of youth footballers.

Teams will compete across six age groups (Under-8, Under-10, Under-12, Under-13, Under-15, Under 17), and will play about 30 games per season in an approximate eight-month period. The SYL will also include a promotion/relegation feature across all age groups.

Additionally, all participating players will have an individual FAS Youth Player Profile, offering national coaches and scouts a database to select players from into the National Development Centres (NDC).

Photo credit: Unleash The Roar! / Facebook

SportSG Deputy Chief Executive Toh Boon Yi highlighted the long-term impact of such a project, saying “it is manifestation of our commitment to building a pipeline that will contribute to Singapore football – and the local sporting fabric – for years to come.”

The participating clubs and academies are part of the FAS’ Academy Accreditation System, which was recently launched to ensure clubs and academies provide a robust structure for youth development. There will also be three invited academies – Johor Darul Ta’zim, the ActiveSG Football Academy and the Singapore Sports School.

The SYL will also provide a platform for the development of women’s football in Singapore. Clubs can register all-girls teams that will play one age category lower. Two girls’ teams from the Junior National Development Centre (JNDC) and the NDC will feature in this year’s edition.

Schedules, scores and updates can be found at syl.sg or via Singapore Youth League on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.