The FA has launched a new strategy to grow and develop grassroots football in England, titled ‘A Thriving Grassroots Game’.
The new strategy outlines five priority areas, including:
The new strategy outlines five priority areas, including:
- Improving playing choice and opportunity – To create new and varied playing opportunities to give everyone a chance to play the game, in a way that suits them best
- Deliver equal opportunities for women and girls to play – To ensure every woman and girl who wants to play football has an opportunity to do so in a safe and enjoyable setting and in a way that suits their lifestyle
- Build more, and improve existing, facilities – To increase the quality and quantity of grassroots football pitches and facilities across England, to better meet the demand
- Tackle poor behaviour – To see a decline in cases of poor behaviour of any kind, and to increase reporting of discrimination, ensuring enjoyment is at the forefront of playing, volunteering or officiating grassroots football
- Develop a valued network of volunteers, coaches and referees – To grow the number of grassroots volunteers, coaches and referees, and ensure they all feel valued and supported to fulfil their roles in the game
FA CEO, Mark Bullingham, said: “Grassroots football has incredible power to unite communities, improve lives and inspire positive change.
“Over the next four years we will transform the landscape of our grassroots game by investing in more new quality grass pitches to reach our 12,000 target, alongside over 300 new artificial pitches.
"Through our new grassroots strategy, we want to inspire positive change through football by driving equal opportunities for women and girls, improving facilities across the county, tackling unacceptable behaviour and supporting our volunteers, coaches and referees. We have set clear and ambitious targets to focus on the biggest opportunities and challenges.”
Read the full strategy.
“Over the next four years we will transform the landscape of our grassroots game by investing in more new quality grass pitches to reach our 12,000 target, alongside over 300 new artificial pitches.
"Through our new grassroots strategy, we want to inspire positive change through football by driving equal opportunities for women and girls, improving facilities across the county, tackling unacceptable behaviour and supporting our volunteers, coaches and referees. We have set clear and ambitious targets to focus on the biggest opportunities and challenges.”
Read the full strategy.
