2. FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT 2.1 THE FA NATIONAL FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME The Football Development team direct their activities towards the growth of football and the safeguarding of the game's future. It aims to increase participation at all levels and put in place the platform to allow players of all standards to realise their potential. At the turn of the century, evidence existed to suggest that the grassroots game had fallen into decline in terms of both participation and the standard of facilities. The FA’s response was to launch The FA Football Development Strategy, through the newly formed National Game division, to address these issues. The Strategy identified four priority areas which have seen the national game move from strength to strength over the last four years: • 14% growth in mini-soccer • 38% growth in boys’ youth football • 49% growth in girls’ football • 43% growth in small-sided (5/6/7-a-side football) 2.1.1 CLUB DEVELOPMENT The two-tier FA Charter Standard Club award was introduced as a ‘kite-marking’ scheme to recognise best practice in delivering football within clubs. 2000 clubs have now attained FA Charter Standard Club status signifying the provision of qualified coaches, child protection training and policies, codes of conduct and a development plan of their own. Sitting above the basic FA Charter Standard award, The FA Charter Standard Development award represents the pinnacle of the club development pathway and aims to develop a network of high quality, multi team (a minimum of 10) FA Community Clubs with excellent social, training and playing facilities. These clubs form the ‘hub’ for the community – a focal point for all those who play, coach, administer and provide volunteer support. FA Community Clubs are the ideal medium where football can deliver in line with the broader social agenda. Therefore FA Community Clubs, and thus facility developments, operate a system of prioritised investment in areas of the greatest need – i.e. in inner city areas and areas of deprivation. 200 clubs have now reached the pinnacle of the club development pathway by achieving The FA Community Club award. 2.1.2 EDUCATION All children, whatever their circumstances or abilities, should be able to participate in and enjoy physical education and sport. Accordingly the Strategy aims to develop football provision from Primary Schools right the way through to Higher Education. FA CHARTER STANDARD SCHOOLS A similar award to the club development Charter Standard award scheme has been developed to recognise best practice in delivering football within schools. The FA Charter Standard Schools award focuses on coaching qualifications, equal opportunities for boys and girls, delivering the FA TOP Sport Football Programme at Key Stages 2 and forming school/club links to provide pathways for children wanting to progress into playing within the club sector. Over 2,500 schools have now achieved the award. THE DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION AND SKILLS (DFES) DfES is currently promoting the vision of maintained secondary schools developing their own distinctive character and ethos and has set a target of 400 schools achieving Sports College status by 2005. The FA’s target is that 30% of these Sports Colleges deliver football to both boys and girls as a focus sport both in curriculum and out of school hours. OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS LEARNING (OSHL) This programme aims to engage primary aged students in football activity from specific target groups that may otherwise not participate in physical activity. This could include students with low physical literacy skills or young people with disabilities. The programme will be integrally linked to the School-Club Link strategies within the counties to support the transition from school to club football. The programme offers coaches working in education and teachers further skills and resources to support OSHL programmes. SCHOOL-CLUB LINKS A fundamental theme underpinning all football development is supporting young people to move from school-based football to a suitable club opportunity. The FA provides funding and resources, via the 3 Lions FC programme, to help schools and clubs broker sustainable relationships and develop high quality school-club links. Delivery takes place within School Sport Partnership areas across the country, with many key sporting and football agencies engaged in the programme. JUNIOR FOOTBALL ORGANISERS COURSE The FA’s Junior Football Organisers course is designed to support teachers to offer training to young people aged 14-18 to provide specific knowledge and skills for working with players aged 6-11 to deliver safe, fun and progressive football practices and mini-soccer games. County FAs provide local training courses for teachers to enable them to familiarise themselves with the course before delivering to their students. 10,000 young leaders have now completed the course. THE CHARTER STANDARD COLLEGE SCHEME The FA continues its support through to further and higher levels of education ensuring that people do not stop playing the game once they leave school. The FA Charter Standard Colleges programme supports FE colleges and Sixth Form colleges in England who are committed to using football as a medium to deliver sport and raise academic achievement. FA STUDENT RESEARCH RESOURCE 2005-06 14 The FA Charter Standard Colleges programme has been designed to support colleges to: • Encourage young people to return or continue in education using football as the medium toengage them • Raise standards in academic achievement • Engage young people in learning through sport • Provide opportunities for males and females to continue playing after leaving school • Provide opportunities for males and females to pursue FA coaching award so they may play a valued role with the development of community football • Provide links to quality FA kitemarked clubs • Provide life long learning skills such as teamwork, discipline and cooperation The FA is keen to recognise and reward Charter Standard Colleges both on a national and a local level and they will be highlighted and invited to participate in various events at every opportunity. Some of the benefits of being a Charter Standard College are: • Free equipment • Tickets to youth and women’s games for students • Charter Standard newsletter • Regional and national awards • Individual student awards • Use of the FA Charter Standard Logo • Projecting a positive commitment to sport in your community to parents/carers, students and teachers. Further Education Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges and Higher Education (non university status) institutions are eligible to apply. UP FOR THE CUP Up For The Cup is a comprehensive cross-curricular resource supporting the Key Stage 2 Curriculum for History, Geography, Art and Design, the framework for PSHE and the Literacy and Numeracy strategies. ENGLISH SCHOOLS FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (ESFA) The ESFA is the governing body which organises schools football throughout the country in partnership with The FA. The ESFA aims to provide enjoyable soccer experiences for both Primary and Secondary school children by offering competitions ranging from mini-soccer for under-11 footballers through to the 11-a-side game for older pupils from Year 8 upwards. Further information on the work of the ESFA can be found here: www.esfa.co.uk 2.1.3 DEVELOPING VOLUNTEERS Chancellor Gordon Brown designated 2005 as the Year of the Volunteer and football relies heavily on the support of volunteers, especially at National Game level. Recent research from Sport England estimated that there are 431,000 volunteers, comprising nearly half of all sports volunteers in the country. The FA has twice won Sport England’s award for the Best Volunteer Programme. THE FOOTBALL WORKFORCE The Football Workforce helps clubs to: recruit more volunteers into football; retain volunteers within the sport and help them to work smarter, not harder. Over 6,000 clubs and 50,000 volunteers have already benefited from the programme. Participating clubs can access certificates for their volunteers as well as being able to nominate volunteers for Regional and National Awards. A mother-of-four who plays a vital role in running a youth football club in North London and a 17-year-old who set up a new team for youngsters at his local club in Gateshead were among the 2005 winners of the FA Football Workforce awards. To support the programme, every County FA has a Football Workforce co-ordinator to provide practical help. EFFECTIVE FOOTBALL CLUB ADMINISTRATOR COURSE To further help the development of volunteers, The FA also provides seven short courses, which are delivered locally by the County FAs. FA STUDENT RESEARCH RESOURCE 2005-06 16 2.1.4 EQUITY AND INCLUSION The Football Association is determined to ensure that everyone has a chance to be involved in football, regardless of ability, race or religion. Full details of our ‘Football for All’ campaign can be found in a separate section within this resource. 2.1.5 SIR TREVOR BROOKING Q&A – CHARTER STANDARD There are now 2,700 Clubs and 2,500 schools who have been awarded the Charter Standard status by The FA. The Charter Standard gives parents a clear sign of a quality football environment for their child and also helps Clubs and Schools to attract funding. The FA’s Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking explains the importance of Charter Standard in developing the next generation of footballers. Q. What is the role of Charter Standard in developing football in England? A. We need to set standards of delivery in the grassroots game. We need to give youngsters the opportunities to improve and qualified coaches are the best people to do this. If the opportunities to keep playing are available, then their skill level will improve. We need a workforce that understands encouragement and support rather than having a representation of the worst elements of the men’s game. Q.