The report says Jayanthi believes free play gives young athletes room to explore movement, regulate fatigue and stop when something hurts. Those freedoms are often squeezed out of structured football, where every activity has a coach, a schedule and a performance target.
That matters because growing bodies are not simply smaller versions of adult players. Jayanthi warns that repeated workloads, especially during growth spurts, can place stress on vulnerable areas around bones and tendon attachments. Early specialisation is also linked, in his view, to a greater risk of burnout and overuse problems.
The message is not anti-coaching. It is an argument against making organised football the whole of a child’s sporting life.
For younger players, particularly those below 12, Jayanthi recommends sampling different sports rather than narrowing too soon. Football benefits from that variety: balance, coordination, agility and decision-making can all develop away from formal drills.
His practical guidance is equally direct. Structured training should not dominate a child’s week, while coaches should adjust workloads when players are growing or struggling physically.
Parents are often trained to look for obvious warning signs, such as limping or swelling. Jayanthi also points to changes in mood and enjoyment. A child who no longer wants to attend training may be communicating something important.
As academies and grassroots clubs plan their next seasons, the challenge will be resisting the belief that more football is always better football. The next generation may improve not only through sharper sessions, but through having enough freedom to love the game.