The F.A.'s Football Development Team works with County Associations, leagues, clubs and schools all round the country to award Charter Standards to deserving recipients.
Kevin Keegan and Michael Owen as the first stage of the programme launched the Charter Standard for Schools in October 1999. Harry and Jamie Redknapp launched the second, the Charter Standard for Clubs, on 1 February 2001. The third stage is the Charter Standard for Holiday Courses. The Charter Standard, part of the on-going Charter for Quality scheme, aims to:
- Providing a nationally recognised quality control 'kitemark'
- Improving the quality of provision for boys and girls
- Sustaining participation for players over a longer period of time
- Raising standards
The Football Association's international relations strategy
As set out by Chairman Geoff Thompson, reflects The FA's principle vision of "using the power of football to build a better future". By building relationships with the football family around the world, The FA aims to lead by example and shape the debate at UEFA and FIFA level by playing a full and proactive role within world football. It is also committed to using England's resources, expertise and knowledge in co-operation with less-privileged regions of the world to develop their football infrastructure
"Football is truly a global sport," explains Geoff Thompson, "And The FA is committed to playing a role, extending a helping hand and building solid links around the world."
Since its inception in October 2000, the International Relations team of Jane Bateman and Kim Fisher supported by Morag Taylor and led by The FA's Director of International Strategy David Davies, can claim an impressive range of achievements in both fields. At the heart of it is The FA's International Development Programme (IDP), through which projects have been initiated in all regions of the world, ranging from goalkeeping courses to marketing, sports medicine, refereeing and administration workshops, each targeted at the specific needs of the country or countries involved. The FA also holds annual international courses in England for fitness trainers, treatment and management of injuries, referees, football administration and coaches.
The Goal Scheme
Child protection is high on The FA's agenda. The goal is to have someone at every club in the country aware of child protection and best practice, whether it's a Premiership Academy or a Sunday morning park side.
Already 40,000 people have attended The FA's Child protection and best practice workshops. These are organised via County FA's on a regular basis. Now, The FA has launched a guide - an introduction to child protection that can be worked through at home.
The FA believes football can have a powerful positive influence on children. But that means everyone involved in football must take on the responsibility of looking after those children that want to play the game.
Goal is about doing things the right way, doing things properly. It's about allowing children to enjoy the game without abuse of any kind. That means bullying, physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect.
Setting Standards
The Charter for Quality is The Football Association's programme to ensure and guarantee that the development of the country's best young footballers meets the highest possible standards.
By building on the best traditions of this country and learning from techniques employed abroad, The FA has built a framework of excellence, which is being put into practice at clubs up and down the country.
Doping In Football
Allegations and evidence of doping over the past few years have rocked the football world. However, is there reluctance within the game to properly fight against the spread of banned substances use?
An agreement over a new guideline that athletes found guilty of serious doping is subject to a mandatory two-year ban. However, FIFA argued there might be 'exceptional circumstances' and Blatter is committed "to define these exceptional circumstances in clearer terms." This points to a reluctance to come down too heavy on offenders.
Perhaps this is not surprising when one considers the wider cultural context within which FIFA makes its policies.
In some respects, public attitudes towards drug use appear curiously ambivalent for, though most people would strongly deprecate both the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport and `drug abuse' within the wider society, it is almost certainly the case that, in modern western societies, we have come to be more dependent on the use of prescribed drugs than at any previous time in history. The increasingly widespread acceptance of drugs in everyday life provides an essential part of the back-cloth for understanding the use of drugs in sport.
WADA, and governing sports bodies such as FIFA, condemn the use of certain drugs because, as WADA’s website states “Doping is fundamentally against the ethos of the spirit of Olympic Games”. The Olympic Charter speaks of the promotion of "friendship, solidarity and fair play".
But what does “friendship, solidarity and fair play” mean to a top modern professional player? Top clubs are put under massive pressure by their fans and the financial shareholders. The top clubs compete in their domestic season as well as continental football and their players will usually have international duty too. This can mean the players are playing up to 80 high-pressure games in a season.
These pressures mean that top clubs have to invest more resources in medical help to their players - personal physiotherapists, latest equipment, dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists - all these exist to give their players an edge over their opponents. To increase stamina, build muscle strength and aid quick recovery - the main aims of doping in the first place.
But potentially there is a huge price players have to pay if they get into doping.
Sports Grants And Funding Sources
The Football Foundation aims to provide sporting facilities and to promote education by: putting in place a new generation of modern football facilities in parks, local leagues and schools; providing capital and revenue support for the running of grass roots football; and strengthening the links between football and the community and to harness its potential as a force for good in society.
The Foundation represents a unique partnership of the FA Premier League, the Football Association, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport/Sport England who are each providing £20m a year. Current total funding available is £53 million per annum.
Funding is available under the following headings:
- Grass Roots Scheme
- Community & Education Scheme
- Grants for Schools
- Junior Kit Scheme
Three quarters of the total budget is devoted to the grass roots improving pitches and dressing rooms at schools and in parks. The Foundation can make grants for capital and revenue projects. Its associated body is the Football Stadium Improvement Fund (FSIF), the vehicle for ground safety and improvement work for professional / non-league clubs.
Local authorities; educational establishments; football clubs; multi sport clubs; registered charitable organisations; companies limited by guarantee; industrial and provident societies; not-for-profit organisations.
Funding is not available to individuals who will be the sole beneficiary; clubs without open membership; private limited companies; religious or political groups.
Grass Roots Scheme
The aims of the grass roots funding is to provide opportunities for anyone of any age, background or ability to participate.
Grass roots funding primarily supports organisations that wish to build develop or refurbish facilities in order to sustain or increase participation. Grass roots applications may also include an element of revenue funding which enables the sustainability or increase in participation through a development plan. An organisation can apply for funding up to a maximum of £1m and the percentage level of support is variable but will not exceed 90%. Ceiling grants will only be awarded in exceptional circumstances and to date the average grant awarded is 65%. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that all other sources of funding have been exhausted.
There is a separate designated schools application pack (which covers key stages one to four) although colleges of higher education and universities should use the general application forms enclosed within the application pack.
Examples of grass roots funding:
- Changing room improvements
- Pitch drainage
- Artificial pitch installation
- Floodlighting
- Clubhouse development and refurbishment.
The aims of the Community and Education funding are to:
- Increase participation and volunteering in sport by people with disabilities, black and ethnic communities, people on a low income and women and girls
- Create more inclusive communities who play sport together and encourage and support local teams at the grass roots
- Encourage the adoption of healthy lifestyles and to contribute to improving the well being and quality of life of people of all ages and abilities
- Assist young people and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds to increase their education attainments and raise personal aspirations
- Ensure that young people participating in sport do so in a safe and secure environment
- Share ideas, research and identify best practice from schemes to enable more people to participate in sport in the community.
Examples of community projects are:
- Community coaching schemes
- Volunteer training programmes
- Employment of development officers
- Study support centres
