At present FA Rule C4 states: “Save for matches in a playing season in the age ranges Under 7, Under 8, Under 9, Under 10 and Under 11 players in a match must be of the same gender”.

This rule has the effect of prohibiting boys and girls aged 12 or over from participating in the same match, and the rule has been reviewed twice before in the last 6 years. In 2001, the result of one of those reviews was that The FA extended the age range from under 10s to under 11s. 

Following the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Women’s Football Report, The FA conducted extensive research on the issue. Young players and the general public were consulted through TheFA.com, the ‘Your Game Your Say’ questionnaire (10,000 responses), the FA Youth Survey (5,000 responses), and independent research at FA Girls Centres of Excellence.

The FA has also sought advice from other sports including rugby and hockey and consulted international football governing bodies such as UEFA and FIFA and the Football Associations of Italy, USA, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Holland, France, Germany, Wales and Scotland.

The following domestic organisations have also been approached for information relating to The FA’s current C4 rule: DfES, QCA, OFSTED, Child Foundation, Sport England, DCMS, AKAS, Youth Sport Trust and UK Sport, NSPCC and Child Protection in Sport Unit.

In light of all this work, The FA is currently considering a number of actions and these will be discussed at FA Council at the end of June.

The FA has also focused their attention recently to seeking the funding to provide more talent development opportunities for girls across the country and particularly in the North West, Yorkshire, the North East and South West where the impetus of letters from players and parents has centred.

There are now 147,000 girls and women playing affiliated football for schools and clubs up and down the country, and it continues to be the Number 1 female team participation sport in the country.

The expanding network of clubs at the grassroots now feeds 52 FA centres of excellence country-wide, with 20 of the most talented teenage female footballers each year then offered 'scholarships' at The FA National Women's Player Development Centre at Loughborough University.

The FA funds their full time Degrees and accommodation, with the players granted access to the best sporting facilities in the country, where they are mentored by The FA's National Coaches, including Hope Powell.

The England Women's team have qualified for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in September for only the second time in its history, and there are also Development squads at U15, U17, U19 and U23 level, comparable to the men's game, enabling the most ambitious and talented players to achieve international recognition.