Football in the community aims to provide people from 6-18 the chance to take part in football and combines with a talent identification process giving players a chance to advance. The key aims are to channel energies of all youngsters into discovering football skills. To create awareness of leading a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit. To give an opportunity to improve football ability along with numeracy and literacy. To help the street become a safer place by encouraging youngsters off the street and into constructive activities.
PATHWAYS FOR ELITE PERFORMERS
The football Association plays a leading role in encouraging and promoting the talented players of tomorrow. The future of the game depends on developing talent from a very early age. At the heart of this idea is the F.A. Charter for Quality programme which ensures the best opportunities are given for the coaching and education received by young players. The F.A. run a variety of competitions for clubs at levels of the game from the world famous F.A. challenge cup to trophies for Sunday league sides.
The F.A. Sunday cup is a competition for clubs playing in Sunday leagues across the country. It attracts more than 100 entries from around England and the final is held at a league ground.
The F.A. County youth cup is a competition for representative youth sides of County football Associations. Giving the best young players involved with the grassroots of football their chance to shine.
As part of this Charter for Quality all Premier league clubs must have academies and all league clubs must have centres of excellence (at least). By building the best traditions of this country and learning techniques from abroad the F.A. has built a framework of excellence employed across the country.
Football Academies
Thirty-nine football academies are currently in operation. Nineteen football league clubs have academies as well as all the Premier league clubs. These bring together the best young players to give them quality coaching, education and medical care that gives them the best chance of success. For the key features of a football academy see next page under centres of excellence list
Centres of excellence
All league clubs (except those with academies) must have centres of excellence. 53 are currently operating predominately at league clubs, offering young players high standards of training and development. Centres of excellence have been in existence for many years but the F.A. Charter for Quality programme has introduced and enhanced standards.
Key factors of an enhanced Centre of Excellence and Football Academies
Child protection
All staff to be screened and registered
Each centre to designate a member of staff responsible form child
Protection and awareness training
Development of child protection policy
Limitation on numbers of Centres of excellence per club
Grievance procedure
Agreed football calendar including 36 in-service training for all staff
Staff to be required to maintain personal CPD portfolios
Guide lines to parents with regard to registration, educational needs etc
Player coach ratios
Mandatory coaching for goal keepers
PROVISIONS FOR MALE AND FEMALE COMPETITORS
Football has always been the people’s game; because anyone can play it almost anywhere- you just need a ball and some friends. For anyone wanting to play football seriously there are opportunities to take part in football across the country. The levels of football opportunities available will vary from 5a-side leagues played indoor or outdoor after work right up to 11a-side competitive leagues played usually at weekends.
Football is now officially the biggest women’s and girls sport in England. Research has shown that girls who want to play sport want to play football but just because you didn’t play when you were young doesn’t mean you can’t play now. There are over 800 women’s teams playing 11a-side competitive football every week throughout the August-May season.
One of the reasons people get involved is because the equipment is so cheap. All you need a pair of shin pads, a pair of boots and the club usually supply the kit. If you want to get involved in football call the local rate line which will tell you of the teams available in your area and how you can join them. Call 0845 310 8555.
PROVISIONS FOR DISABLED PARTICIPANTS
There are currently six England squads for disabled participants. These are:
-Blind-these people are classified according to their level of sight. Game is played on a solid surface. The football contains ball bearings so the players can hear the ball
-Partially sighted-Players who have little sight in their eyes. Games played indoors with a size 4 ball, which doesn’t bounce, as much as the normal ones
-Deaf and hearing impaired-Average hearing loss of 55 decibels in the better ear. Players must not wear hearing aids
-Cerebral palsy-Players must be ambulant. 7a-side, 2 halves of 30 mins
-Learning disabilities- players must have an intellectual disability (IQ below 75)
-Amputee-outfield either above or below the knee single amputees and goalkeepers are single arm amputees
The teams all receive official England kit, a physio a fully trained technical adviser and money towards travel costs for attending European and World champion ships.
The aim of this is to see EVERYONE have the chance to play football even if they have a disability it doesn’t stop them taking part in a separate game.
CONCLUSION
Overall I believe that the F.A. is doing nearly everything in its power to develop the game of football throughout the country and give just about everyone that wants a chance to play the option to participate. They are doing this through their initiatives for disabled and normal players and have made rule adaptations to fit their level sport. Although they are doing a lot, I believe they could do more by developing more courses for people who want to get involved with the more teaching side of football and make the option open for anyone who wants to attend a course i.e. coaching or referees easy access to areas close to home where they can participate.
