Tài liệu The Football Association of Ireland Technical Development Plan 2004-2008 ppt

A new and agreed framework forthe development of football needs to be put in place and should include the following; ● The FAI must be more player oriented in all its decision making and

The Football Association of Ireland Technical Development Plan 2004-2008

The Football Association of Ireland

Technical Development Plan 2004-2008

Contents

INTRODUCTION

3 President’s message

5 Chief Executive’s message

7 Technical Director’s message

9 International Team Manager’s message

Section 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Section 2. FOOTBALL FOR THE FUTURE

14 The Irish Framework for the development of soccer

15 Planning and consultation process

19 Specific objectives

Section 3. BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

23 The Player Development Pathway

28 Grassroots soccer

– The Children’s Game

– The Men’s Game

– The Women’s Game

– Football for All

50 Creating Quality Facilities

Section 6. MANAGEMENT, STRUCTURE AND FINANCE

53 Technical Department Structure

55 Funding and Resources

58 Outline Implementation Plan

Section 7. APPENDICES

61 1 Dates and venues for consultation

62 2 List of Atendees

64 3 Main outcomes from consultation

83 4 Draft Statement of Player Capacities

88 5 Roles and Responsibilities

President’s message

Introduction

We in the FAI know the life enhancing power of football, the effect it has on our health, our minds, the way it brings

us together and gives us a sense of national pride and identity

The FAI envisage an Ireland where everyone can participate in football throughout their lives whether as players,coaches, referees, administrators or in any other part of the game We also look forward to the day when our highpotential players, men and women, are lifted by a supportive infrastructure to help them to sustain and improve

upon our success to date

The FAI is 83 years-old this year and in all of that time there has never been a cohesive strategy for the long termdevelopment of players, until now

The development of this plan has undergone a wide process of consultation, unlike anything seen in Irish football orperhaps in Irish sport A wide range of views has emerged and there was no shortage of tasks our stakeholders

would like us to do

The impact of this plan will, in my opinion, provide people at local regional and national levels with an opportunity

to participate and progress within the game on a scale that is far greater than can be imagined

Milo Corcoran

President

3

Chief Executive’s message

THE mandate of the FAI is to foster and develop the game increasing participation at all levels and for both genders

In fulfilling this mandate, the development of football related activities and programmes of the highest levels fromthe playground to the representative teams at European and World level is essential

This Technical Development Plan outlines the extensive work undertaken by the Association in the Technical areaand provides the clearest possible vision of how the FAI working with the football community can extend thisprogramme of work and transform the way the game is developed into the future

The benefits to our players, our game and ultimately our communities are tangible ones Player development,personal development, social and psychological development in addition to the core technical aspects of the

pathways outlined in the plan bring substantial benefits to all our communities

The plan sets detailed, comprehensive and ambitious targets and I know that successful implementation of the planwill radically change the way we approach many aspects of the development and management of football in Ireland.Football is the most popular sporting activity in the country, crossing cultural and gender barriers.The TechnicalDevelopment Plan will provide the young people of Ireland with a development path from nursery to elite interna-tional status unrivalled in any other sport It will give a pathway and lifelong experience of the game to all whoparticipate I hope the Irish state, business community, media and the public provide their complete support, as welook to build a better game for the future generations

Fran Rooney

CEO

Technical Director’s message

COACHES at all levels recognise that training and competition is essential to player success.They should also knowthat young players are not miniature adults and that the emphasis and content of training differs according to thedevelopmental age of the player Consequently, it is a long term process for young players to develop into eliteplayers

With very young players, the emphasis of training should be on basic co-ordination and movement acquisition in afun environment and while challenges and competition are an essential part of training, they should not be the focus

of it

As young players move through to each new phase of their development, the process and the programme should

be clear It must also be methodical to allow easy transition to the next phase Consideration of what should becoached, when, for how long and how often, must be related to critical periods – the ‘windows of trainability’ Againthese must be linked if players are to reach their potential and fully develop as a person.Thus, it is essential todevelop and use a Long Term Plan for player development

These considerations have involved the FAI in a critical examination of current coaching and training methods forplayers Study has been made of methods used by those countries which have achieved success in developing

football players on a consistent basis.The outcome of this assessment identifies areas which have to be redefined orchanged as appropriate within our game

Our coaching and training structure and content will, with the help of the UEFA, the Irish Sports Council and theNational Coaching and Training Centre be re-designed Our competitive schedules must be re-assessed to allow allplayers more time to train, learn and master the movement, mental, technical and tactical skills necessary for them

to reach their true potential

The FAI Long Term Player Development Programme as part of the Technical Development Plan will contribute toskills, fitness and knowledge among Irish football players in the years to come

We are all charged with the responsibility to ensure that players are provided with the best opportunities to fulfiltheir dreams

Packie Bonner

Technical Director

International Team Manager’s message

DURING my time as Underage International Team Manager and Technical Director, the deficiencies in current

methods of player development and the lack of structured, clear programmes or pathways for young players becamevery obvious

Having had the opportunity to see and compare what other progressive nations, both large and small have imposed

in their football system, I felt it was imperative that the Association in conjunction with the best coaches in Irelandcame up with some new thinking for the development of football in Ireland

While the structures of clubs and competitive leagues have produced young players of some ability, many of whomrepeatedly emigrate to British clubs, our system in general has failed to produce players of a consistently high

technical ability in comparison to our European counterparts In other vital areas such as core strength and tacticalawareness, our players are way behind, which was particularly obvious in recent European club encounters

With the massive potential and talent available, I feel a new approach, with the emphasis on a long term and

co-ordinated approach to developing players, involving all the partners in Irish soccer, will have major benefits for all

levels of the game in Ireland and of course, our national teams in the future

It is essential that long term player development programmes be integrated to our structures in order to continue

to be competitive at all international levels and crucially, to improve the overall standard of football here in Ireland.Having been involved in the process of the Technical Development Plan since its inception, I am delighted that thedocument and its contents have received a wide welcome across the game as the way forward.The implementation

of the plan will take time and extraordinary dedication, but I feel the will is there to change and improve the type ofplayer being produced by our system, whilst maintaining the inherent competitiveness of Irish players

Brian Kerr

International Team Manager

9

The Football Association of Ireland’s Technical Development Plan has been compiled following a period of extensivestudy and stakeholder consultation over the last three years The plan sets out the Irish framework for coaching

and player development under the leadership of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) from 2004 - 2008 and

incorporates complimentary actions in refereeing, administration and training facility development

Nine key objectives are outlined and the plan will seek to:

1 Define a clear philosophy and realistic pathways for the development of Irish players

2 Increase the quality and quantity of coaches, referees and administrators through an extensive programme of

education, support and resources at local, regional and national level

3 Increase grassroots participation

4 Provide a clear development structure for emerging talent

5 Create structured links between the underage game, the emerging talent programme and the semi-professional /

professional game in Ireland, UK and Europe

6 Enhance the standards of the National League against European benchmarks

7 Achieve and sustain international success

8 Provide guidelines and a framework for the development of quality training facilities at local, regional and national

Level

9 To put in place a structure to implement the Technical Development Plan which links club/school, county,

provincial, national and international aspects of the game

The Plan sets out the goals and actions which will drive the achievement of the above objectives In addition, a fullre-organisation of the Technical Department of the FAI is proposed The resources required to implement the planwill be sought from within the game; commercial and corporate revenue, sponsorship and the Irish Government

The implementation of the plan will be driven by the FAI’s Technical Department with half yearly and annual

evaluation reports produced for the Board of Management and regular updates to relevant key committees.Thesereports will provide the basis for the continuous evaluation and adaptation of the plan against the objectives whichhave been outlined

Developing the Irish Game

11

Soccer is the world’s leading sport The game provides a healthy, enjoyable outlet for children and adults all overthe globe In Ireland, soccer is a central part of sporting culture and plays a vital role in developing individuals and

in achieving international success

Government policy has increasingly recognised the importance of sport to social, cultural, economic and

educational progress and through the policies of the Irish Sports Council, the Government is seeking to increase

participation in sport and maximise performances on the international stage

While much progress has been made in developing the game in this country to date, there is a growing

recognition that the sport’s governing body, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) needs to proactively reform theway in which soccer is developed and managed The need for a new direction was forcefully highlighted in the

FAI/Genesis Report (2002), which called for root-and-branch change within the organisation

Significant progress has already been made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Genesis Report,particularly in relation to the governance of the organisation

Developments at national and international level also reinforce the need for changes in the way the game is

organised in this country and UEFA has recently signalled the importance of developing grass roots football in a

planned and systematic way Within Ireland, the Irish Sports Council has highlighted the need for a more strategicapproach to the development of sport, while the National Coaching and Training Centre has drawn attention to thefact that player development is a long-term process, taking ten years or more

There was and has never been, since the foundation of the Association, a clear and concise plan to meet the needs

of players at each stage of their development and this has led to a lack of quality playing and coaching opportunitieswithin the game in comparison with other developed football nations While interest in playing the game has growndramatically, the structures required to sustain this interest are not fully in place.This has led to a situation wherecertain areas of the country and particular target groups are still struggling to find opportunities to play the game attheir own level

On the international stage Irish teams have achieved many great results and performances over the years but inorder to sustain this success the game in Ireland must be developed in line with international best practice wherethe leading nations have through their relevant Football Associations integrated the development of players into

their overall thinking, practice, philosophy and structure

The next step, therefore, must be to ensure that the game is developed on a technically sound basis in this

country.This essential phase in the development of the FAI must take full account of the needs of players at eachphase of their development

There is a need for a clear, agreed plan which provides a defined set of objectives for the development of the

game and outlines a clear programme of action,The identification of who is responsible for implementing these

actions has been determined and realistic timescales for their implementation outlined

The delivery and implementation of the plan will provide a sound philosophy and framework to guide decision

making at all levels of the game and within the organisation

Context

13

Soccer is the world’s leading sport The game provides a healthy, enjoyable outlet for children and adults all overthe globe In Ireland, soccer is a central part of sporting culture and plays a vital role in developing individuals and inachieving international success.

Football in Ireland is entering an important new era.The consultation process which underpins this document hasshown clearly that the FAI needs to take a strong leadership role in the future A new and agreed framework forthe development of football needs to be put in place and should include the following;

● The FAI must be more player oriented in all its

decision making and structures (See figure 1)

● The FAI should provide a clear framework for

developing players at all levels of the game

● The FAI needs to take a strong leadership role in

implementing the overall framework

● There needs to be an agreed, clear, effective and

cohesive structure within the Technical Department

in order to implement the Technical Development

Plan

● The structure needs to promote open and

two-way communication and effective linkages between

national, regional and local levels within the game

● Volunteers and professionals must work together in

a spirit of openness, respect and mutual trust

● In order for the Technical Development Plan to be

implemented the importance of working together

towards a common goal needs to be recognised at all

levels of the FAI

● The framework must be developed taking due account

of Government policy in general and the policies of the

Irish Sports Council in particular (e.g anti doping; code of

ethics; participation; performance and excellence)

● The development of Irish players should be guided by

best practice and the principles of long term player

lu n te

s

Administators Colleges

U n

iv e

rs at

Figure 1 Player Centered Decision Making

As a result of this framework the guiding philosophy of the FAI will be;

“ to help all players fulfil their full potential by respecting them as individuals with their distinctive needs and talents, to assist them to develop their athletic abilities, build on their soccer skills and maximise their tactical awareness

The FAI will strive to ensure that all decisions made are in the interests of players and the development of the game in Ireland.”

PHILOSOPHY

14

The origins of the Technical Development Plan date as far back as 1998, when Brian Kerr was appointed by the FAI

as Technical Director At the request of the Association, a major remit for the Technical Director was the

formulation of a national plan for the development of soccer, with particular emphasis on the underage game Prior

to completing his term as Technical Director, Brian Kerr made considerable progress and brought the plan to asignificant stage of development This work has now been taken on to completion by the new Technical Director,Packie Bonner

The development of the plan has taken place under the guidance of a Technical Development Plan Working Group.This Committee initially consisted of Brian Kerr, Packie Bonner, Richard Fahy, Noel O’Reilly, Brian McCarthy, SeanMcCaffrey,Trevor Lovell, Michael Tattersall and Jimmy McDermott

Dr Pat Duffy, Director of the National Coaching and Training Centre, acted as Chairman of the group and fromthe outset outlined the need for a core set of principles which would guide the development group in the

completion of the plan

These core principles included;

Realisation of the FAI’s responsibility to provide an alternative lifestyle for young people in disadvantaged areas

Technical Development Plan Process

In order to ensure that the Plan addressed the needs of football at all levels, 14 Regional Consultation workshops wereorganised, with over 1,000 attendees.These workshops sought the views of football people, at grassroots level, on how thegame should be developed for the new millennium (Appendix 1 outlines the venues for the consultation meetings.Appendix 2 provides a list of attendees The main outcomes/feedback from the workshops is provided in Appendix 3.)The Executive and Board of Management of the FAI were kept appraised of the progress of the Plan at the appropriatestages Key Committees of the Association were consulted as well as experienced coaches and managers; former nationaland international level players; regional development officers and coach education personnel External agencies such as theIrish Sports Council (ISC); the National Coaching and Training Centre (NCTC); educational interests and others were alsoconsulted.

A final draft was developed for consideration at a summit of administrators and coaches in January 2004 Following thesummit, this draft was subjected to final approval by the FAI Council and Board of Management prior to its publication

Section 2.3 FOOTBALL FOR THE FUTURE

Appointment of

Technical Director

Initial Consultations with Coaches, Managers, Key

Personnel, Tutors, RDO’s and others

Preparation

of Draft for Technical Summit

FAI Summit January 2004

Approval by FAI Council and Board of Management

Launch of Plan June 2004

Section 2.4 FOOTBALL FOR THE FUTURE

The Technical Development Plan is the vehicle through

which an agreed, effective and integrated coaching,

training and competitive framework will be achieved

Under the leadership of the Football Association of

Ireland the provision of more enjoyable and

fulfilling opportunities and pathways for all

people involved in the gamewill be achieved

through the delivery of high quality programmes,

structures and facilities

This Mission Statement will provide a clear focus

and a changed landscape for Irish football

resulting in the delivery of the following

outcomes:

● More players participating in quality football programmes which are matched to their age and stage of development

● More coaches that are better educated to deal with the age and stage related needs of their players

● Clear pathways for all players, coaches, referees and administrators within the game

● A unified structure linking club / school, county, provincial and national levels supported by full time personnel at

county, provincial and national levels

● A revised competition structure to meet the needs of players at each stage of their development

● An emerging talent programme linking into all levels of the game and in particular to underage / youth clubs

and clubs in the national league

● Sustained success at international level

● An enhanced National League

● High quality regional centres and a national centre in place

● A fully reorganised, resourced and professionally run Technical Department

Mission Statement

Section 2.5 FOOTBALL FOR THE FUTURE

The following specific objectives and areas of focus have been identified to increase playing, coaching and tration standards in the game of soccer in Ireland during the next five years:

adminis-Specific Objectives and Areas of

Development Focus

1

2

3

● Establish a clear philosophy and pathway to guide programmes, practice and decision making into the future

● Develop a comprehensive player manual which encompasses the FAI player development

through an extensive programme of education, training and resources at local, regional and national level :

● Devise, re-design and fully implement all of the education courses outlined in the Technical

Development Plan

● Further align the qualifications of coaches to UEFA and NCTC standards

● Increase the number and distribution of educational opportunities around the country, with a strong emphasis on local needs and delivery

● Raise the status of football qualifications and provide opportunities for continuous professional development.

● Increase participation through quality grassroots programmes relating to,

– Children

– Clubs, Leagues and Schools

– Women’s football

– Players with special needs

– The retention of players from adolescent

through to the adult game

● Develop in partnership with relevant affiliates an Emerging Talent Development Programme for 9

-12 year olds, 13 - 16 year olds and 17 – 21 year olds

● Develop appropriate competition structures which fully align with the Emerging Talent

Development Programme

● Put in place an agreed policy for the movement of underage players

● Put in place an agreed compensation mechanism for under-age clubs concerning the movement of their players to the semi-professional and professional game

– Referees – Administrators – Parents

– Socially excluded members of society

6

programme and the semi-professional / professional game in Ireland, UK and Europe:

● Implement existing regulations concerning the movement of young players to semi-professional and professional clubs

● Establish an advisory and monitoring service for players / coaches in the areas of career and

education

● Put in place a national academy structure that provides training, education, competition and advice

to Emerging High Performance players prior to and during the early stages of their semi professional and professional careers

● Optimise the choices of players so that they can pursue the most appropriate playing opportunities for themselves in the National League, UK and Europe

● Establish and implement models of best practice in partnership with organisations involved in the identification and representation of talented players

● Assist National League Clubs to adopt and implement the UEFA club licence Technical guidelines

● To create a pathway within the National League structure that caters for emerging talent

● Improve the Technical Department’s service to all managers and coaches within the National League

● Improve the competitiveness of National League Clubs in European Competitions and the standing

of the National League in the UEFA International Club Competition Coefficient

7

● Continue to adopt a planned and progressive approach to international training and competition schedules

● Maintain competitiveness and standing in UEFA/FIFA rankings

● Continue to develop the capacities (technical, tactical, mental, physical, personal, lifestyle) of players

at underage international level in order to maximise the possibility of the international teams

qualifying and competing in major tournaments

● Develop world class sports science, medical and technological back-up systems so that all

International teams continue to achieve success at major international tournaments

● Constantly monitor European and World trends within the game and within sport

● Extend player recruitment policies on a global basis, while promoting a hunger, passion and itiveness to play for Ireland

compet-Section 2.5

Section 2.5 FOOTBALL FOR THE FUTURE

8

local, regional and national Level:

● Analyse existing facility provision

● Implement facility grading criteria at local, regional and national levels

● Map out future facility requirements with an emphasis on quality and the standardisation of facilities and equipment

● Work in partnership with Government, local authorities, clubs, schools and colleges to maximise the range of quality facilities available

● Devise agreements between the FAI and facility operators for the use of training facilities for the delivery of FAI programmes

● The establishment of Regional Football Centres and a high quality National Football Coaching and Training Centre

9

● Re- organise the Technical Department to deliver the objectives of the Technical Development Plan

● Facilitate clubs, leagues and affiliates in strengthening their structures

● Align administration and competition structures with the goals outlined in the Football

A great deal of voluntary effort has been expended, over many decades, for the development of football in Ireland.This dedication and selflessness has helped to produce many outstanding players at amateur, professional and

international levels It has also ensured that a wide network of clubs, schools and leagues have been built up

providing many opportunities for all ages to play the game

However, taking into account the speed of change within the European and World game and the recent successes

of so-called less developed football nations at club and international level it is clear that a coherent, structured, andplayer-centred development pathway needs to be put in place for the Irish game

At present, from grassroots through to Elite Youth, National League and International Football, there is NO

DEFINABLE pathway guiding players to a level of football which will fulfil their potential, and retain them in thegame for life Regional differences merely highlight the lack of consistent, measurable, and democratic opportunitiesfor players to develop to their maximum

Players at all levels and ages need opportunities to fulfil their potential, and enjoy the game as much as possible Atpresent Irish players, compared to their European counterparts, are not afforded sufficient opportunities to attain alevel of preparation, training, competition and required lifestyle which will challenge enthuse and motivate them tofurther improvement and career advancement

The pace of modern day life in Ireland has increased dramatically in the last 10 years and because of this moreemphasis needs to be placed on the mental, personal and lifestyle elements of a player’s development From afootball perspective, more attention needs to be paid to the technical, tactical and physical development of players.Younger players need to be provided with the opportunity to develop their skills and decision making in bothpractice and competition situations Specific game formats should be adopted for the different age groups and theright balance between practice and competition achieved.The age and gender profile of some leagues is unbalancedand overtly competitive at too early a stage in a player’s development.The structures for the development of playerswith special needs must also be developed

Research has shown that the long-term development of players is a process that can take ten years or more andthe programmes and structures of the FAI must recognise the requirements and phases of this process

Player Development Pathway

Section 3.1 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

is achieved between training and competition at the different age groups.

The FAI in consultation with the NCTC and international player/athlete development expert Dr Istvan Balyi havedeveloped a six phase model of long term player development (see figure 3) The main elements of these phases arepresented below in a modified form;

Phase 1 – The FUNdamental Phase

Age: Males 6 to 9/Females 6 to 8 years

The main objective of this phase is to learn all the fundamental movement skills using a well-structured, positive andfun approach Soccer skills should be introduced, with an emphasis on fun, skill development and small-sided games.Appropriate and correct running, jumping and throwing techniques are taught using the ABC’s of athletics Participation

in as many sports as possible is encouraged The development of these fundamental movement skills will contributesignificantly to future at achievements

Phase 2 – The Learning to Train Phase

Age: Males 9 to 12/Females 8 to 11 years

The main objective of this phase is to learn the specific soccer skills in conjunction with FUNdamental skills from arange of other sports.These skills form the cornerstone of all player development An emphasis on technical

development should be a key part of this phase, with the 7 v 7 game being introduced, progressing to 9 v 9

“Scientific research has concluded that it takes eight to twelve years of

training for a player/athlete to reach elite levels This is called the ten year

rule or 10,000 hour rule, which translates to slightly more than three hours practice daily for ten years Unfortunately, parents and coaches in many

sports still approach training with an attitude best characterised as ‘peaking

by Friday’, where a short term approach is taken to training and performance with an over emphasis on immediate results We now know that a long-term commitment to practice and training is required to produce elite

players/athletes in all sports.

A specific and well-planned practice, training, competition and recovery

regime will ensure optimum development throughout a Player/athlete’s

career Ultimately, sustained success comes from training and performing well over the long term rather than winning in the short term There is no

shortcut to success in athletic preparation Rushing competition will always result in shortcomings in physical, technical, tactical, mental, personal and

lifestyle capacities”.

Section 3.1 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

Phase 3 – The Training to Train Phase

Age: Males 12 to 16/Females 11 to 15 Years

The main objective of this phase is to consolidate basic soccer skills, introduce the basic elements of tactics and toaddress the two critical periods of physical development namely the aerobic base and strength of players It should

be noted that both aerobic and strength trainability is dependent on maturation levels and not solely chronologicalage

Phase 4 – The Training to Compete Phase

Age: Males 16 to 18/Females 15 to 17 years

The main objective of this phase is to optimise fitness preparation and soccer, individual and position-specific skills

as well as performance More advanced tactical elements of the game are introduced During this phase, highintensity individual, and position-specific training is provided to players Soccer specific skills are performed under avariety of competitive conditions during training Special emphasis is placed on optimum preparation by modellingtraining and competition

Phase 5 – The Training to Win Phase

Age: Males 18yrs and older/Females 17 yrs and older

This final phase of player preparation aims to maximise fitness preparation and soccer, individual and specific skills as well as performance All of the player’s capacities are now fully established and players are trained

position-to peak for major competitions Training is characterised by high intensity and relatively high volume with frequentperiods of rest

Phase 6 – The Retainment Phase

This phase refers to the activities performed after a player has retired from competition permanently The aim ofthis phase is to retain players for coaching, sport administration, officiating or recreational participation in the game.For semi professional and professional players this phase will include career planning and transition

Soccer Long-term Player Development Model (draft)

The six phases of LTPD in Soccer

1 FUNdamental - build overall motor skills

2 Learning to train - learn all fundamental sports skills, including soccer skills

3 Training to train - build ‘the engine’ and consolidate soccer specific skills

4 Training to compete - fine tune ‘the engine’, position specific skills and

performance

5 Training to win - maximise performance, position specific skills and ‘engine’

6 Retirement/Retainment - adjustment/retain players/athletes for

coaching/administration

Section 3.1

Figure 3

Section 3.2 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

Player Capacities along the Pathway

ONE of the key principles of the Long Term Player Development is that the player faces different demands

at each phase of his/her development The development model outlines these demands and provides an indication of the capacities that need to be developed by players if they are to successfully negotiate each phase.

A classification of the capacities required is outlined in figure 4 below This classification takes a holistic view of player development and includes technical, tactical, mental, physical, lifestyle and personal capacities (NCTC).

Appendix 4 outlines in draft form the key capacities to be developed at each phase of the development of the player.

It is envisaged that these capacities will be subject to final review by national and international experts before their adoption and publication.This model will form the basis of a comprehensive Player

Development Manual.

Figure 5 Figure 4

Physical Rest /

Fatigue

Nutrition Strength

Power

Energy Systems Health

Oxygen Transport

Fuels

Hydration

Nutrients Absolute

Relative Specific Speed Explosive

Anerobic Alactic

Anerobic Lactic Aerobic

Physical Rest /

Fatigue

Nutrition Strength

Power

Energy Systems Health

Oxygen Transport

Fuels

Hydration

Nutrients Absolute

Relative Specific Speed Explosive

Anerobic Alactic

Anerobic Lactic Aerobic

Within each of these capacities are a variety of sub-capacities which also need to be catered for It must

be noted that deficiencies in any of the capacities will adversely affect performance in training and in competition.

Figure 5 provides an example of how the physical capacity

is made up of various sub capacities

Training and Performance

Training and Performance Character

Emotion

Tactical

Technical

Mental Physical

Environment

Injury Disease

Over Training Over Training

Section 3.2 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

Organisational Structure

● Establish a Player Development Unit

within the Technical Department

Player Development Model

● Player pathway and relevant capacities to

be defined at all ages with respect to

technical, tactical, physical, mental, personal

and lifestyle development and reviewed

every 3 years by expert coaches nationally

and internationally

Player Development Manual

● Publish and launch the Irish Player

Development Manual dealing with the

technical, tactical, physical, mental, personal

and lifestyle capacities at each phase of the

pathway.

Competition Structures

● Review the National Competitive

framework at local, regional and national

levels – with sound statistical information to

predicate future decision making

● Restructure the competition framework

inline with the Player Development Model

and Emerging Talent Development

Technical Director to appoint editorial team

to research, write and design the player development manual

CEO and Technical Director to set up a small working group to include representatives from affiliates and the national league to review all competitions and to present findings and recommendations

Competition Review Working group

Actions are proposed in the areas of organisational structure; player development model; player development manual; competition structures;

INCREASING participation in the game at all levels will be a major objective of the Plan.The FAI has a number ofquality grassroots programmes throughout the country, many of which are the envy of National Governing Bodies

in Ireland and National Associations in other countries

In order to maintain and increase efficiency in this area it is proposed to establish a Grassroots and RegionalDevelopment unit within the Technical Department which will be overseen by a Senior Manager

Specific targets will be set, in the following areas

● The Children’s Game

● The Men’s Game

● The Women’s Game

● Football for All

Each of these areas will now be dealt with in turn

Grassroots Football

Section 3.2

Section 3.2-1 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

FOOTBALL is a great game for children It is fun, develops a range of skills and can be played anywhere.The FAIneeds to continue to encourage children to take part and to give them quality experiences which are right for theirage and stage of development This will lead to more long - term and lifelong involvement in the game The

environment in which children play the game must be safe, fun and challenging and all practices must comply withthe FAI’s Code of Ethics for Children’s Soccer

The massive growth in interest that has occurred within the game presents both challenges and opportunities forthe FAI Access to appropriate coaching and training, allied with appropriate competitive activities are crucial toensure that children can have fun and develop their skills in a planned, quality and structured fashion According tofeedback from the consultation process there is an overemphasis on competition and not enough emphasis onpractice at underage level and this is to the detriment of the further development of quality players.With this issue

in mind it is essential that a detailed review of all competitive opportunities for children is undertaken

The proposed pathway model for soccer strongly emphasises fundamental motor skills and sport specific skills atthe fundamental and learning to train phases This means that children up to 12 years should play the game in anenvironment where fun, general and specific motor skills are the top priority

Actions are proposed in the areas of player development manual, coach education, structures, competition, pation and game format

partici-The Children’s Game

Player Development Manual

● A Player Development Manual for use by coaches

working with children outlining the key technical,

tactical, physical, mental and lifestyle capacities,

practices and competitions at the various stages of a

child’s development will be produced

Coach Education

● To develop a Coach Education Course structure

that caters for the needs of coaches working with

young people and takes into account the

recommen-dations outlined in the Player Development Manual

Structures, competition and game format

● To implement the recommendations outlined by

the Competitions Review Working Group in relation

to the organisation of competitive opportunities for

children

● To put in place an agreed policy in relation to the

movement of players nationally and internationally

● To implement the specific game formats on a

national basis outlined by the Competitions Review

Working Group

● To encourage all existing leagues to operate girls

sections within their various structures

Participation

● To implement the Buntús Soccer Specific

Programme in 1500 School, Club and Community

Settings

● To co-ordinate and implement high quality,

Summer Soccer Schools which cater for 30,000

children annually by 2008

● To promote Futsal as the official indoor football

game for children and to facilitate the delivery of

competitive Futsal in 10 leagues by 2008

● To implement the inner city Futsal Programme in

80 venues annually by 2008

Technical Director to appoint editorial team to research, write and design the player development manual

Coach Education Working Group

FAI, SFAI, WFAI, FAIS and Technical Department

FAI, SFAI, WFAI and National League

SFAI, WFAI, FAIS, Junior and Intermediate Leagues and Technical Department

FAI, SFAI, FAIS and WFAI

Technical Department, The Irish Sports Council, Local Sports Partnerships, FAIS

Technical Department, SFAI, WFAI, FAIS

Technical Department, SFAI, WFAI, FAIS

Technical Department, LSP’s, SFAI, WFAI and Local Authorities

Section 3.2-1

BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

ALTHOUGH soccer is already played by a large number of men there

are areas of the country where football is not strongly established This

is due to a lack of adequate structures, resources and facilities

In today’s world of increasing recreational choices, football will have to

offer more attractive opportunities to people in order to entice them

to play the game

A vibrant men’s game at junior and intermediate level is central to

providing quality pathways and lifelong involvement within the sport

There is a need to review existing competition structures within the

men’s game in order to assess the level of participation and to outline

any weaknesses that may be apparent and where further prospects for

the development of the men’s game exist

Actions for the development of the men’s game will be taken in the

following areas; participation, player development, coach education,

competition structures and retention

The Men’s Game

Participation

● Undertake an analysis of existing structures and

participation within men’s football

● To promote Futsal as the official adult five-a-side

game in Ireland and to create appropriate

competitive opportunities for participants

Player Development

● The development of a Player Development Manual

for use by coaches working with junior and

intermediate players outlining the key technical,

tactical, physical, personal, mental and lifestyle

capacities at their stage of development

Coach Education

● To develop a Coach Education Course structure

that caters for the needs of coaches working with

junior and intermediate players and takes into

account the recommendations outlined in the Player

Development Manual

Competition Structures

● To implement the recommendations outlined by

the Competitions Review Working Group in relation

to the organisation of competitive opportunities at

local and regional level

Retention

● To actively target men to get involved in coaching,

refereeing and administration through a

profes-sionally planned promotional drive

Competitions Review Working Group

FAI Technical Department, Provincial Associations, Junior and Intermediate Leagues

Technical Director to appoint editorial team to research, write and design the player development manual

Coach Education Working Group

FAI Technical Department, FAI Marketing department, Provincial Associations, Junior and Intermediate Leagues

FAI Technical Department, Marketing Department, Provincial Associations, Junior and Intermediate Leagues

Participation

● Provide more opportunities for girls to play

football at the FUNdamental and Leaning to Train

phase by implementing a policy of positive

discrimi-nation in relation to the delivery of FAI Grassroots

Participation Programmes e.g Buntús, Summer

Soccer Schools (see Children’s Game)

● To undertake a professionally planned promotional

campaign aimed at encouraging more women to get

involved in football

Player Development

● The development of a Player Development Manual

for use by coaches working with women outlining

the key technical, tactical, physical, personal, mental

and lifestyle capacities at the various stages of their

development

Coach Education

● To develop a Coach Education Course structure

that caters for the needs of coaches working with

women and takes into account the recommendations

outlined in the Player Development Manual

Structures and Competitions

● To implement the recommendations outlined by

the Competitions Review Working Group in relation

to the organisation of competitive opportunities for

women

● To encourage existing structures to embrace the

development of the women’s game (see Club /

League Structures section)

Retention

● To actively target women to get involved in

coaching, refereeing and administration through a

professionally planned promotional drive

FAI Technical Department, WFAI, SFAI, FAIS, LSP’s, Irish Sports Council

Technical Department, FAI Marketing Department, WFAI, Department of Health,

Irish Sports Council

Technical Director to appoint editorial team to research, write and design the player development manual

Coach Education Working Group

Competitions Review Working Group

FAI, WFAI and other affiliates and leagues

WFAI, FAI Technical Department and Marketing Department

WOMEN’S football, whether for social reasons or even prejudice has

histor-ically had a restricted opportunity to develop in Ireland Currently the number

of registered women players is approximately 10,000 However, a far greater

number participate in an informal way.The FAI believes that many girls and

women would like to play football.The challenge for the FAI, therefore, is to

boost girl’s and women’s participation in football by putting in place attractive

structures, programmes and resources and to ensure that adequate pathways

are easily accessible

Actions are proposed in the following areas; participation, player

development, coach education, retention, structures and competition

The Women’s Game

Section 3.2-3

Section 3.2-4 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

THE FAI has taken a leading step in the appointment of a full-time Development Officer with

responsibility for facilitating the creation of a clear pathway to cater for players with a variety

of disabilities

The Football for All programme, as it has become known, is made up of players from the

following sports groups, Special Olympics Ireland, Irish Deaf Sports, Irish Blind Sports, Cerebral

Palsy Ireland and the Irish Special Schools Sports Council

Before the appointment of the Development Officer, these groups were operating in isolation

with little support from the FAI and little or no access to existing structures and facilities

The FAI recognises that certain communities start from a disadvantaged position and may

need proactive assistance from the Association to gain access to all of the opportunities that

exist in football

Actions are proposed in the following areas; participation, player development, coach

education, structures and competition and high performance

Football for all

Participation

● Provide more opportunities for people with

disabilities to play football as children through a

policy of positive discrimination in the delivery of FAI

Grassroots Participation Programmes e.g Buntús,

Summer Soccer Schools, workshops, clinics and Blitz

days.

Player Development

● To establish a Football For All working group to

develop all aspects of football for players with

disabilities

● The development of a Player Development Manual

for use by coaches working with players with

disabilities outlining the key technical, tactical,

physical, personal, mental and lifestyle capacities at

the various stages of their development.

● To look at the possibility of hosting international

Competitions in order to promote, recruit and

educate new participants through the showcasing of

games

Coach Education

● To develop a Coach Education Course structure

that caters for the needs of coaches working with

people with specific disabilities and takes into

account the recommendations outlined in the Player

Development Manual

Structures and Competitions

● To establish appropriate competition structures for

groups so that they are provided with meaningful

experiences and challenges

High Performance

● To provide financial and technical assistance to

National Teams preparing for International

Competition

FAI Technical Department, LSP’s, Special Olympics Ireland, Irish Deaf Sports, Irish Blind Sports, Cerebral Palsy Sports Ireland, The Irish Special Schools Sports Council and Les Autres.

Technical Department, Special Olympics Ireland, Irish Deaf Sports, Irish Blind Sports, Cerebral Palsy Sports Ireland, The Irish Special Schools Sports Council and Les Autres.

Football for All Working group and Technical Director to appoint editorial team to research, write and design the publication of the player development manual

Football for All Working Group

Football for All Working Group and Coach Education Working Group

Competitions Review Working Group, Football for All Working Group

FAI, Government and Technical Department

Section 3.3 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

Research and Structure

● Appoint working group to research, consult and

produce a draft Emerging Talent programme for

male and female players

● Pilot the programme

● Put in place a database to monitor all players

within the Emerging Talent Programme

● Research the feasibility of an educational element

for participants in the emerging talent programme

Competition

● Establish relevant competitive opportunities in the

context of the proposed Competitions Review and

the Emerging Talent Programme

Talent Development

● To establish a transparent system for the

identifi-cation and selection of talented players for the

emerging talent programme

● Establish and implement models of best practice in

partnership with organisations involved in the

identi-fication and representation of talented players

Career Guidance

● Establish a Football Career Education Programme

for players involved in the Emerging Talent

Programme, National League and players operating

abroad

County and Regional Emerging Talent Programmes

● Establish a structured emerging talent programme

on a county/regional basis closely linked to WFAI,

SFAI, National League Clubs and a National Academy

Programme

● Devise and implement a development programme

for elite emerging talent

Technical Director, Player Development Manager, SFAI, WFAI and National League

FAI Technical Department FAI Physical Fitness Advisor and Player Development Manager

Emerging Talent Working Group and FAI Education Co-ordinator

Competitions Review Working Group, the SFAI, WFAI and Emerging Talent Working Group

Player Development Manager

Player Development Manager and Career Guidance Officer

Technical Director and Career Guidance Officer

Player Development Manager, National League Clubs, Leagues, SFAI, WFAI

Technical Director, Player Development Manager, High Performance Manager

AT present there is no consistent, integrated and structured coaching and development programme for the most talented young Irish players What is in place is a representative squad structure which is more advanced in some parts of the country than in others.The quality and

quantity of the training sessions for these squads also varies greatly.

There is a need to put in place a coaching and development programme which can overcome the gaps in the system, thus allowing young

players to fulfil their potential.

For example, during the month of June, for one week, the SFAI run a very well organised Under 13 competition known as the Kennedy

Cup This competition provides a showcase for every league in the country Prior to the competition players in each team come together for specialised training sessions and it is evident that teams who have been together over a longer period achieve better results.

Out of the approximately 600 players that play only 40 - 50 are selected for the Under 15 national squad the following year This effectively leaves the remainder without a structured, monitored development programme in order to continue their progress.

This international squad is further reduced to approximately 25 players and these players normally make up the bulk of the international

squads for the remainder of the underage international competitions.

Actions are proposed in the areas of research and structure, competition, talent development, Career Guidance, County and Regional,

Emerging Talent Programme, National Academy Programme.

Emerging Talent

Section 3.4 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

IRELAND has justifiably gained a strong reputation internationally, as a result of

its performances at under-age and senior level Currently the Senior

International team is ranked 14th in the world

It is essential that this ranking is maintained and, if possible, improved upon to

ensure top seeding for future qualification campaigns

Despite this record, the technical staff associated with all of the teams

recognise that there is a need to work on the development of the full range of

capacities that are needed for success at international level In particular, there

are deficiencies in the way many players have developed in the technical,

tactical, physical and lifestyle areas

A successful Senior International team generates the main source of income

for the FAI, therefore, non-qualification has major implications on future

income Therefore, it is imperative that sufficient revenues continue to be

re-invested into the development of future international players

Actions are proposed in the following areas; Planning, Support Systems, Player

Recruitment, Performance Standards

High Performance

Planning

● Establish a High Performance Group to co-ordinate

aspects of physical, medical and psychological

preparation for all international teams

● Adopt a planned and progressive approach to

international training and competition schedules for

all international teams taking into account long-term

player development principles

● Review on a regular basis performance levels and

international best practice

Support Systems

● Appoint a full time physical conditioning expert to

co-ordinate all aspects of physical preparation

● Ensure that the support systems as recommended

by the High Performance group are implemented

National Academy Emerging Talent Programme

● Provide strong competition and advice to

emerging High Performance players prior to and

during the early stages of their senior Professional

career

Player Recruitment

● Update the database of current and potential

international players including specific information

on performance and measurement

● Extend player recruitment policies on a global basis

to identify talented players of Irish descent

CEO, Senior International Manager and Technical Director

All International Managers

High Performance Group and International Managers

CEO and High Performance Group International Team Managers

Technical Director, Player Development Manager

International Department, Physical Conditioning Expert, Player Development Manager

International Department and International Managers

THE FAI is fully committed to supporting the development of the game in Ireland In order to complete this taskthe network of volunteers and professionals who have the knowledge and skills to encourage development must befurther increased and supported Coaches, referees and administrators play key roles in introducing players to thegame, officiating and organising Parents have a key role in encouraging children to develop their full potential.While the Association has provided significant educational opportunities for people involved in coaching andrefereeing through its Coach Education and Referee Development Programme it has not catered for the educationalneeds of administrators working in clubs and leagues or parents.

An opportunity now exists, through the implementation of the Technical Development Plan to fully support theeducational requirements of the game’s volunteer and professional workforce This will ensure that those involved

in the game at all levels are equipped with the necessary skills and best practices to significantly improve standardswithin the game

The Association, therefore, will put in place a new structure to co-ordinate the development, delivery, marketingand promotion of all aspects of its educational business In the future, more courses, conferences and resources ineven more subject areas covering every area of the game will be delivered

The FAI will ensure that all of its educational activities are designed and delivered at local, regional and nationallevel in a consistent, transparent, modern, creative and challenging way This will ensure that all participants canmaximise their potential

● Establish FAI Education Unit within the Technical

Department

● Appoint FAI Education Manager

● Devise a business plan for developing

co-ordinating and implementing FAI education

programmes

● Commence a programme of implementation for

FAI Education Programmes

CEO and Technical Director

CEO and Technical Director FAI Education Manager, FAI Marketing Department

FAI Education Manager and FAI Education Staff

Section 3.3 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

Coach Education Programme

● Establish a Coach Education Working Group to oversee the implementation of the Coach Education Programme

● Undertake an assessment of current coaches and tutors operating throughout the game

● Undertake a detailed review of the Existing Coach Education Ladder including an assessment of all existing content and make changes where necessary

● Begin development of new courses and workshops

● Evaluate and where necessary update existing organisational procedures in relation to the delivery of all courses

● Evaluate current assessment procedures and make changes where necessary to ensure complete transparency

● Update and develop existing and additional resource materials for coaches operating at all levels

● Outline specific targets for the Coach Education Programme

● Establish an advisory group to provide guidance and assistance

Monitoring and Review

● Continuously monitor international best practice in relation to Coach Education

● Continuously monitor and review the delivery of the Coach Education Programme

MAIN ACTIONS

COACHES play a key role in introducing players to the game.They must also be in a position to provide the necessary coaching and personal skills required to develop players to their full potential.The FAI currently operates courses from introductory level to UEFA A level and has approximately 10,000 registered coaches.

It is incumbent upon the FAI to provide more encouragement, support and opportunities to ensure that coaches working with players at all levels hold a recognised FAI coaching qualification.

The FAI can do this by increasing the number of courses throughout the country, making sure that the timing and length of the course suits the participants and that the delivery of the courses is of the highest quality.

A further imperative for the FAI is to ensure that all Coach Education courses are fully aligned with the Player Pathway that is currently under development (see figure 4).

Over the lifespan of this plan the FAI will deliver the following actions in relation to Coach Education.

Coaching and Coach Education

A Coach Education Working Group has already been formed and many of the actions outlined are already underway From this work an outline Coach Education Ladder has been devised and is presented below in Figure 6.

Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Intro

UEFA Pro Licence UEFA ‘A’ Licence UEFA ‘B’ Licence GK ‘A’ Licence

GK ‘B’ Licence

GK Intro

Kick Start 1 Kick Start 2

Youth Cert Senior Cert

NCTC Levels

Senior Intro

Section 3.4 BUILDING PATHWAYS IN IRISH SOCCER

Technical Director

Coach Education Working Group

Coach Education Working Group

Coach Education Working Group

Coach Education Working Group, Technical Director, FAI Education Manager, Coach Education Co-ordinator

Coach Education Working Group, Technical Director, FAI Education Manager, Coach Education Co-ordinator

Coach Education Working Group,

Technical Director, FAI Education Manager, Coach Education Co-ordinator

Technical Director, FAI Education Manager, Coach Education Co-ordinator

Coach Education Working Group

RESPONSIBILITY

PRO Licence UEFA A Senior Cert

UEFA GK Licence

Coaching Practice

Train

to Win

Train

to Compete

Train

to Train

Learn

to Train

FUNdamentals

Coaching Workshops UEFA ‘A’ and ‘B’

Senior Cert

GK ‘A’ Licence Coaching

Practice

Coaching Workshops UEFA ‘B’

Senior Intro Youth Cert

GK ‘B’ Licence Coaching

Practice

Coaching Workshops UEFA ‘B’

Youth Cert

GK ‘B’ Licence Intro to GK

Coaching Practice

Coaching Workshops UEFA ‘B’

Kick Start 2 Youth Cert

Intro to GK Introduction to

Coaching

Coaching Workshops UEFA ‘B’

Kick Start 1 & 2 Youth Cert

Intro to GK Movement

and Fun

Coaching Workshops

Figure 7 Links between Player Pathway and Coach Education Programme

● Appoint a working group to review and make

recommendations in relation to the Referee Development

Programme

● Devise an adequate structure to cater for the

adminis-tration needs of the Referee Development Programme

● Maintain a detailed database of referees operating at all

levels

Promotion and Recruitment

● Actively target new referees through a professionally

planned recruitment and training campaign

● Update and improve the content, resources and delivery

of the Referee Beginners Course

● Develop adequate training and education resource

materials

Communication

● Update referees section on FAI website

● Examine feasibility of producing a quality publication for

communicating with referees and assessors

Retention

● Provision of regular in-service training for newly

qualified referees

● Organisation of regular meetings with assessors and

instructors in order to update and review progress

● To develop a scheme which recognises Services to the

Game by Referees

Elite Referees

● Devise a High Performance Referee Development

Programme to help improve the classification and increase

the number of Officials on the National League and FIFA

Panel

Referee Development Manager

Referee Development Manager and Referee Development Working Group

Referee Development Manager

Referee Development Manager, Referee Recruitment Officer and FAI Marketing Department

Referee Development Manager and Coach Education ordinator

Co-Referee Development Manager and Co-Referee Development Working Group

Referee Development Manager, Referee Recruitment Officer,

UEFA, FIFA and Referee Department Manager

Referee Department Manager and FAI Webmaster Referee Department Manager, FAI Marketing Department Referee Recruitment Officer

Referee Department Manager Referee Department Manager

Referee Department Manager and Referee Development Working Group

REFEREES perform a vital role in the game and with the growth in the popularity of football particularly amongstwomen and children, the demand for match officials is continuously increasing

The FAI currently have approximately 1000 referees operating at all levels throughout the country Many of theseofficiate at three or more games each weekend which is clearly an unsustainable situation

Since the appointment of two full time employees to oversee the development of refereeing approximately 300Referees have been recruited and trained each year However, in the same period an average of 200 referees retirefrom the game for a variety of reasons This situation needs to be addressed rapidly if the game is to continue toflourish

An adequate pathway which caters for referees who wish to operate at higher levels is essential and the FAI has,under the guidance of the manager of the referees department, put in place a School of Excellence that caters forapproximately 30 talented referees between the ages of 17 and 25 every two years

Increasing the numbers of referees and developing standards at all levels is a major priority for the Association andthe following actions are proposed:

Referees

EFFECTIVE volunteers play an essential and pivotal role in successful clubs and leagues.The FAI has a solid corps ofhard working, diligent, conscientious administrators working at all levels.The majority of these people are voluntaryand, at present, receive little or no in-service or preparatory training Many spend an inordinate amount of timeexecuting their duties with little by way of a support system, or appreciation for their efforts.

In these circumstances it is difficult to attract new people to volunteer for the variety of positions that are

required to progress the game If ignored, this issue will have an impact that will prove to be detrimental to thedevelopment of the game

The FAI will seek to address this issue by implementing the following actions;

Administrators and Volunteers

Research/Training needs analysis

● Research will be undertaken to identify the current

profile, role, demands and training needs of

volunteer and professional administrators involved in

the game

Recruitment

● Actively target the recruitment of volunteers

through a professionally planned recruitment drive

In-service Training

● Devise in-service training courses and workshops to

support volunteers operating at all levels of the

game

● Implement these courses at local, regional and

national level

● Devise and implement a continuous professional

development programme for administrators involved

in the game

FAI Education Manager, FAI HR Department

FAI Marketing Dept, FAI Technical Department, LSP’s, Volunteering Ireland

FAI Education Manager, The Irish Sports Council, NCTC and Volunteering Ireland

Provincial Co-ordinators, LSP’s FAI Education Manager, FAI HR Department

PARENTS play a vital role in many aspects of their children’s development in sport Many get involved in coaching,fundraising, administration and transporting children to and from training and matches.

It is essential that parents understand their role in assisting children to achieve their full potential within the game.Over-critical and over-demanding parents can have a detrimental impact causing children to turn away from the sport

● Devise a section on the website for Parents outlining the

important role they play in supporting their children’s

participation in football and clearly outlining the player

pathway in Irish Football

Parents’ Workshops

● Devise and implement an interactive workshop

specif-ically designed for introducing parents with young children

to the FUNdamentals of football

● Devise and implement a workshop for parents of

talented players in relation to their role in the further

development of their children’s pathway within the game

FAI Education Manager, Grassroots Manager and FAI Webmaster

FAI Education Manager and Coach Education Working Group

FAI Player Development Manager, FAI Career Guidance Officer and FAI Education Officerr

THE FAI has, as the sole body with responsibility for the development of the

game in Ireland, a duty to protect the principles of fair play and to ensure that

children participate in the game in a safe environment The FAI believes that

football can have a powerful and positive influence on children and young

people But that means that everyone involved must take on the

responsi-bility of looking after those children who want to play the game The Irish

Sports Council recently published the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for

Children’s Sport in Ireland and the FAI has undertaken the task of making this

code specific to soccer

The implementation of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s

Soccer is, following its inclusion in the FAI rule book, a pre-requisite for all

clubs, coaches, administrators, leagues and affiliates within the FAI

The Code of Ethics is about doing things the right way, doing things

properly It’s about allowing children to enjoy the game without abuse of any

kind

To ensure that the highest standards of ethics are upheld the FAI has

appointed a full-time Children’s Officer and since his appointment a number of

actions have been implemented However, much work remains to be done and

the following actions will guide his work over the coming years

Code of Ethics

Publications

● Prepare, Publish and Promote the revised FAI Code

of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Soccer

document

● Prepare and publish promotional material

encouraging and supporting best practice in relation

to child welfare in soccer

● Develop and disseminate a sample Child Welfare

Policies and Procedures document to support

volunteers and clubs in their work with young people

Training

● Continue to co-ordinate the provision of relevant

training in co-operation with the Irish Sports Council

and other relevant agencies

Support

● Develop and deliver a support and advocacy

service for children currently playing in other

Football jurisdictions

Communication

● Continue to maintain lines of communication and

cooperation with Statutory Agencies in relation to

statutory investigations

● Maintain and continue to further develop already

established links with the English, Welsh, Scottish and

Northern Ireland Football Associations

FAI Education Manager and Children’s Officer

FAI Education Manager and Children’s Officer

FAI Education Manager and Children’s Officer

FAI Education Manager and Children’s Officer, The Irish Sports Council

FAI Children’s Officer

FAI Children’s Officer

FAI Children’s Officer

Section 5.1 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SERVICES

IN the majority of leading football countries significant benefits are accrued from having a structure of communitybased clubs which operate a number of teams and are well managed A key task for the FAI is to provide a pathwaythat enables and encourages clubs to develop and achieve safe, quality football provision catering for all sections ofthe community including children, women and players with disabilities

A more effective club structure is vital for the development of the game in Ireland Presently, there are too manyclubs operating with no clear consistent structure for the delivery of quality coaching, training and facilities

The FAI must support clubs who have the potential to develop into strong community clubs With this in mindthe FAI are committed to sustainable club development and thus raising the standard of football provision in thecommunity

The further development of FAI local, regional and national structures is a key

component of the Technical Development Plan The plan recognises that the

foundations of the sport are built at club, school and local level It is essential that a regional structure is built up, with strong links to National League clubs and FAI regional centres The creation of a quality facility infrastructure is a high priority for the Association This will ensure that quality playing opportunities can be made available at all levels

Clubs

Audit of Existing Club Structures

● Set up a working group to research and examine

existing club structures and to make

recommen-dations that will foster quality, sustainable,

community club development

Club Development Programme

● To devise a programme based on the

recommen-dations of the working group that will aid the

● Put in place a two-way communication structure

that will service the needs of both the Club and the

Association

Award Scheme

● Develop a local, Regional and National Club

Awards Scheme to reward best practice

THE role of a league is to provide organised, quality competitive football opportunities for players.These

competitive opportunities should be in line with the age and stage of development of players

Currently, 37 schoolboy/girl, 34 junior, two intermediate and 19 women’s leagues exist at grassroots level withinIrish football Many of these leagues are well run, providing quality competitions for their clubs and players.However, there are areas of the country where leagues and competitive opportunities for particular targetgroups are non-existent thus leaving large gaps in the player pathway

There is a need for the FAI to establish a clear, consistent and agreed framework for leagues which directlysupports the goals of the Technical Development Plan The implementation of the actions outlined will facilitatethe establishment of this framework

League Structures

League Structures

● Establish a Working Group to review and make

recommendations regarding the further development of

League structures operating at Grassroots levels

League Development

● Devise a plan for the further development of Leagues

based on the recommendations outlined by the working

group

● Implement the programmes of action outlined in the

plan

Player Registration Database

● Using the latest IT create a standard player registration

database

Competition Review

● Align league formats and player registration details with

the recommendations of the national competitions review

CEO and Techical Director, FAI Affiliates

FAI Grassroots Manager, FAI Affiliates Provincial Co-ordinators, Leagues and FAI Affiliates

FAI Domestic Football Department

Competitions review Group and League Review Group

Section 5.2 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SERVICES

Section 5.3 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SERVICES

Club Licensing

● Clubs to adopt and implement UEFA Club

Licensing guidelines

● Assist National League clubs to adopt and

implement technical guidelines

Emerging Talent

● Put in place an agreed FAI Emerging Talent

Programme linked to underage football and

the National League

● Devise a full time training programme to

prepare talented young players for the

demands of professional football

Compensation

● Develop a system of compensation for all

stakeholders in relation to the transfer of

players to and from eircom League clubs

Education and Training

● Enhance coaching standards within the

league

● Provide a series of in-service workshops for

Club Personnel

● To provide opportunities for League

managers and coaches to work on a regular

basis with international team management

High Performance

● Put in place a structure to integrate League

Clubs into FAI High Performance Programme

FAI Club Licensing Manager and eircom League Technical Director

FAI Player Development Manager, Emerging Talent Working Group, eircom League FAI Player Development Manager, eircom League, FAS

Emerging Talent Working Group

FAI Education Manager and Coach Education Co-ordinator

FAI Education Manager, Coach Education and Player Development Manager

International Team Managers

High Performance Working Group

THE National League was founded in 1921 and originally consisted of eight clubs Since then it has developed into two divisionscatering for 22 clubs Over the years many fine moments have been witnessed and the league has produced many outstandingplayers who have gone on to play the game at the highest levels

Unfortunately, due to changes in the recreational choices of people and the growth in televised football from the UK andEurope, it has become increasingly difficult for clubs to retain existing and, at the same time, attract new supporters

The National League is the pinnacle of the Player Pathway for the domestic game While recognising that significant strideshave been made in developing the League to date much work remains to be done if it is to further progress and meet the newstandards being applied by UEFA as part of its club licensing scheme

A new pathway and improved structures need to be created within the National League to cater for emerging talent includingthe delivery of higher standards of coaching, training, high performance back-up systems, and quality training facilities

The FAI recognises that it needs to support the National League Clubs to put in place these structures to allow them tocompete at higher levels within European competition and the production of potential international players

National League