Simla Youngs School Leagues

It was year 2000, and we wanted to put India in the World Cup in 2010..We had started with a NGO called WE IN 2010 World Cup, and a website www.kickoff2010.com. There were articles contributed by Novy Kapadia, India’s Leading Football Journalist, and Rupinder Singh, Sports Management expert, Mr Sriram Singh the Ace 800 m Runner.

We had to do something on the ground too, so decided to copy the rules of www.minisoccer.com, after discussing with Mr Bill Adams, an eminent football coach of Delhi those days. And we decided to have a league for the U10 boys in an Inter School League format, as these very boys would become 20 year olds in 2010 and make India qualify for the World Cup ! The size 4 ball was used, Throw ins were repeated, 8 a side game, rolling subsitution, Goal Size was 6 * 12 feet instead of the full size goalpost, no offside rule- were the relaxation made in the rules to ensure the boys enjoy the beautiful game.

Besides RS Junior Modern School, Humayun Road where Mrs Geeta Dudeja, the Headmistress had supported the league, and St Columbas, Bangla Sahib Road where Mr BS Chauhan the Secretary of the club was the Coach, there were no schools willing to participate in on our league. Then we requested Mr Sriam Singh, the President of the Club, former Olympian and 7th in 800m Montreal 1976 Omlypics, to accompany us to canvass for the league. We remember Dr D.R. Saini, Vice Principal of DPS RK Puram, taking our proposal out of the dustbin and saying “ Your proposal I have not read, and I had dumped in the dustbin, however you have brought my Hero, Sriram with you, I cannot refuse you.” On his advice, we had 3 DPS affiliates joining the league, and the league took shape.

We made a pair of goalposts costing Rs 7,500 each and transported in each of the 10 schools. The initial cheque for that, was paid by our Merchant Banker friend Ajai Kapur from Hong Kong.

Sonali Chandra of NDTV covered our event, as it made good coverage about a madman who thinks India can qualify for the World Cup.

Initially the schools used to not play when the matches clash with Founder’s Day etc, however the league is so popular that most schools adjust their Sports Days and Founder’s Day to the calendar given by our club !!

It is truly a remarkable league, which has given our club immense pleasure in conducting this event.

Sometimes, we had sponsors, sometimes we funded it ourselves, however we never let the league stop. Now in Oct-Dec 2009 it shall the 9th year of the league.

RS Junior Modern School has always hosted the inaugural event, with the Rajputana Rifles band playing Jana-Gana-Mana to remind the 10y olds of their pledge to make India qualify for the World Cup !

Simla Youngs School League U15

This league is exactly like the U10 league, however it is for U15 boys. The difference is the full sized pitch is used, with normal rules.

This league is one year younger than the U10 league and is more competitive.

Here we insist on age verification of some of the players. Using Gruelich-Pyne’s criterion we get the ages verified at Max Healthcare. If someone is found fudging the age, we ask the kid to not play and give the points to the opposing team.

Thanks to the sponsors – Nestle MILO, Timex, HT, Frito Lays, Boost. NIPL, MyMy Group, Pefetti, Spicenergy, who supported us in the past to conduct the league succesfully.