England's new game plan to find its 'indigenous' Messi

London, May 29(ANI): The Football Association has approved new rules that would ensure that small kids play in small-sided games with goals and balls of an appropriate size, and without the pressure of playing league matches with points at stake.

The FA believes making the changes compulsory will develop happier, smarter and more skilful players, which would eventually mean a better England team.

Some county football associations already apply many of these rules, which would be applicable from the start of the 2014-15 season.

"Einstein said that there was no greater sign of insanity than doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. I was one the last time England won something and I would like to think we will do so again in my lifetime," Les Howie, the FA's head of grassroots coaching, as saying.

"I sometimes wonder: where would the English Lionel Messi be if he was in a system built on results from the age of seven and played on pitches and with goals that were too big? Would they have taken a chance on a small kid?" he added.

"But this is not just about the England team of 20 years time, although it should have an impact on that. It's about every child being introduced to football in the right way and developing a lifelong love of the game," he said.

Trevor Brooking, the FA's Director of Football Development, said: "The vote was as important as anything that will happen this summer. The Euros are about the here and now - this vote is about the future." (ANI)