Football - Getting Involved

The Football Association, as the Governing Body of the game in England, is responsible for promoting and developing the game, and runs an enormous range of activities at every level, under the over-arching vision of ‘using the power of football to build a better future.’

Football is the most popular sport in the country, with more than 2 million registered players, 29 million spectators attending professional matches each year (1999/2000), and television audiences of up to 26 million for an individual match (England v Argentina, 1998).

A key responsibility of The F.A. is to provide opportunities for boys and girls to play football from an early age. There are a number of different avenues to follow but The F.A.'s goals remain the same: putting the fun into football and giving children the chance to participate in a safe environment.  

Mini-Soccer
The Football Association’s approved game for boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 10 is Mini-Soccer, which offers the best introduction to the game. Mini-Soccer fits the needs of the game to younger children, with games played on smaller pitches using smaller goals. More touches of the ball maximise participation for all players.

Children can get involved with Mini-Soccer through leagues, festivals and Mini-Soccer Centres. There are a growing number of opportunities which are available at the local level from Mini-Soccer Coordinators in each County.

Schools
Many children, both boys and increasingly girls as well, are introduced to football through their schools. The Football Association has launched a new programme, Charter Standard Schools, which allows educational establishments to access a wide range of benefits to help improve their football standards.

The Charter Standard will help parents and children understand about the quality of football provision in their school by:

• 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

Football Clubs and Courses
The Football Association’s new Charter Standard Clubs programme sets standards of coaching, administration and child protection for clubs working with young people, and will help children and parents find a club in their local area that meets F.A. standards.

Details of the Charter Standard are available from local County F.A.s.

Professional football clubs run Football in the Community schemes, which provide a wide range of opportunities for children to get involved with playing football.

More than 130,000 children each year attend holiday courses run by professional football clubs, which encourage fun and participation for all by welcoming boys and girls, able-bodied and disabled and people of all ethnic backgrounds. Details of courses are available from the Community Officer at your local professional football club.

www.TheFA.com