Former youth football players support tiered team divisions if handled with care

Former junior football players in Finland say dividing young athletes into skill-based teams can teach healthy competition and resilience—provided coaches prioritise fair treatment and individual development, reports Yle.

The practice of splitting 7–8-year-olds into tiered teams, as done by Kuopio’s KuPS football club, has sparked debate after reports of disappointed children and parents. While the Finnish Football Association recommends starting such divisions later, many ex-players defend the approach when implemented thoughtfully.

“We competed honestly”
Akseli Karjalainen, who played football and ice hockey for Kokkola’s KPV, Hermes, and HPK, recalls his time in tiered teams fondly. The camaraderie, shared successes, and competitive spirit stood out, though the pressure to move up to higher-tier teams was constant. “No one was pushed out—we competed fairly,” he said.

Karjalainen credits early setbacks with shaping his later success. “If I hadn’t faced disappointments as a child, I might never have reached the level I did in hockey.” However, he acknowledges younger children may take failure harder, lacking the maturity to understand broader contexts.

He stresses that coaches must treat players as individuals, not just athletes. “Old-school shouting and ruling by fear don’t belong in modern youth sports,” he said, drawing from personal experiences with poorly managed coaches.

Ball contact over early specialisation
Miko Tornikoski, KPV’s head of coaching and a former junior player, supports tiered teams but warns of risks if mismanaged. “We often focus only on the most eager players, but these divisions also benefit less experienced ones by giving them suitable challenges and more time with the ball,” he explained.

He cautions against rigid age-based rules, noting that while some 13-year-olds show clear potential, physical and technical development varies widely. “Ball skills and athletic background matter most. You can’t compensate for lost training time later.”

On KuPS’s controversial early divisions, Tornikoski remains diplomatic: “As a large organisation, they may have the resources to succeed. Whether it’s the right choice is another question.”

Coaches, not parents, should decide
Tornikoski emphasises that team placements must be led by coaches and club staff, not parents—though he welcomes respectful dialogue. “Parents can question decisions, but the final call belongs to those who see the players daily. Effort and motivation should guide placements, not just goals scored.”

Oskari Saviranta, who played for KPV and IK Myran until adulthood, critiques early divisions for overlooking developmental differences. “Can we truly assess a 6- or 7-year-old’s potential? Some master a skill in a week; others take months.” He sees value in tiered teams only from age 13–14 onward.

All three agree: individuality and long-term development must come first.