AFC continues breaking records with Grassroots Day as it prepares to roll out charter

May 15 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had 38 of its member nations take part in its grassroots football day, its fifth since 2013 and a consecutive year-on-year increase of nearly 60% from 2015 to 2017.

The AFC has placed an important emphasis on grassroots as the route to broadening and developing football on the continent.

Highlights of the activity across the region include more than 40,000 participants in activities planned by the All India Football Federation while the China Football Association expects 30,000 people to participate in as series of events and competitions for women and girls, youths and children, including football activities for the visually impaired.

The Syrian Football Association and Federação Futebol Timor-Leste will be joining the Asian football family’s Grassroots Day for the first time this year, with the West Asians engaging with children from an orphanage in Damascus. Timor-Leste, meanwhile, will be organising a youth football festival for both boys and girls from ages nine to fourteen.

“Every journey in football begins at the grassroots. The AFC Grassroots Football Day brings to life our ambition, under the banner of One Asia, One Goal, to ensure that football continues to flourish and expand its reach to all segments of our continent,” said AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

“I am delighted to see our Member Associations embracing the core values of leadership, professionalism and unity by empowering and bringing joy to people and communities of all backgrounds through football.

“Ultimately, the strong foundation we build today will lead to a more dynamic and competitive landscape for our great game to thrive in Asia.”

The AFC has recently finalised the detail of its AFC Grassroots Charter which is designed as a development tool for the MAs to raise the quality of their grassroots programmes. It identifies 20 performance categories such as grassroots competitions, fairplay, partnerships and personal development.

This AFC grassroots endorsement programme is offered at three levels – bronze, silver and gold. At the entry level (bronze), the emphasis is on mass participation. The next level (silver) focuses on increased levels of quality, and at the highest level (gold), the endorsed members will set the benchmark for grassroots development.

The programme will now be rolled out across the AFC’s member associations.

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711691509labto1711691509ofdlr1711691509owedi1711691509sni@n1711691509osloh1711691509cin.l1711691509uap1711691509


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