What is grassroots football and what are its goals?
Football is not just about professional competitions, victories, and the roaring crowds of fans. Grassroots football strives for much more. It aims for socialization, a love for the sport, and the creation of communities that defy age, gender, or health differences. Grassroots football shows that everyone can find their place; you just have to want it.
Read more about grassroots football and its efforts to inspire a love for the sport in children, as well as adults, men and women, healthy and disabled.
What is “grassroots” football?
Grassroots football is a term used to refer to the amateur or basic level of football. It is not associated with professional leagues or teams. It primarily involves children's football, school and youth football, amateur football, football for disabled players, and veterans.
The driving force here is not financial reward, but a love for the game and a desire to participate.
In football, it’s not just about the game, but also teamwork, social development, health, fitness, and personal fulfillment.
UEFA invests in grassroots football to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion, or sexual identity, has the opportunity to engage in this team sport.
The importance of grassroots football
- Grassroots football helps develop local talents by supporting and honing players' skills without excessive pressure.
- It promotes diversity and inclusion, thereby reducing discrimination, sexism, and racism.
- Players learn teamwork and communication skills in addition to technical football skills.
- Grassroots provides fun recreation, reduces stress, and contributes to maintaining fitness.
Basic principles of grassroots football
- For grassroots football to fulfill its purpose, it must provide the opportunity to play for everyone. Everyone who wants to get involved in football should have the opportunity. In the village or in the city.
- Other principles include limiting discrimination, ensuring the safety of players, coaches, and parents, and creating a fun, exciting game.
- A key principle of grassroots football is fairness and a positive attitude. It should always teach young and older people respect and kindness.
- Grassroots football should also positively contribute to local communities, build a sports culture in the area, and unite children, parents, coaches, and officials supporting the social structure.
What is the role of a grassroots football coach?
A grassroots football coach operates in many ways. In addition to teaching skills and player development, they must educate and instruct their players on proper behavior. At the same time, they become a confidant and support for them when needed.
The coach's responsibilities can include everything from explaining tactics and demonstrating skills to organizing players and assessing their abilities. The coach should lead by example and become a role model for all their supporters.
UEFA and grassroots football
UEFA supports national associations in establishing a philosophy that ensures the future of the game.
Each national association also receives designated funding each year to ensure the continuous development and improvement of grassroots football activities.
Every year during the European Week of Sport, UEFA Grassroots Week takes place, aiming to promote and inspire participation in all forms of football by providing access to pitches and a significant amount of football equipment.
In 2020, UEFA invested 44 million over the next four years into the development of grassroots football. This funding provides opportunities for players of all ages and abilities to play the game in a friendly and safe environment.
UEFA Grassroots Charter
The UEFA grassroots charter sets standards for associations providing grassroots football programs. Below, we will outline six important initiatives that help develop the game across Europe and ensure the popularity of football worldwide.
- Football in Schools FiS
The aim of the FiS initiative is to provide children with the opportunity to play football in a safe environment, increase children's interest in movement and physical activity. It strives to ensure that the first experience with football is positive and contributes to creating a lifelong habit of engaging in sports. Efforts also include better training for teachers and connections between clubs and local schools.
- Development of grassroots football clubs
Local football clubs form the foundation of communities and provide a place where everyone comes together to achieve a specific goal.
UEFA has created working groups for the development of grassroots clubs to help national associations support non-elite clubs in their growth. The group consists of club development experts and aims to provide guidance to national associations in creating their own visions based on quality coaching, strong leadership, and player development.
- Together #We play strong
The Together #WePlayStrong campaign, launched in 2017, aims to transform the perception of women's football and encourage girls to get involved in the game. By collaborating with celebrities, content campaigns on topics of activism, travel, and human interest stories, the campaign seeks to promote the skill and culture of women's football at the highest level and increase the visibility of role models for young girls to look up to.
- Disney Playmakers
The Playmakers program was inspired by academic research showing the positive role of storytelling in helping children enter the world of sports.
After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the Playmakers program was adapted to allow children to stay active at home. Parents were given the opportunity to download materials that explore each main character from the films through reading, playing, creating, and storytelling.
- Coach Education
The organization's goal is to improve the quality of coach education across all 55 member associations. The aim is to attract better coaches, and ultimately players, and to raise the overall quality of the game – whether in grassroots football or elite-level football. Part of the vision includes developing new strategies for coach education.
Coaches will become familiar with methodologies suitable for the specific age group of players during their training, as well as with content tailored for children/modern players. This will help them create a motivating environment for players of all abilities to play, develop, and enjoy the game.
- Protection
After extensive consultation with the 55 member associations of European football, UEFA launched a new policy and tools for child protection aimed at effectively implementing child protection within the organization.
Child workers are to create a safe environment using a set of tools with guidelines, information, and templates to support member associations in their efforts to protect children.
