April 25 – The English Football Association has introduced a new wide-ranging support package to help grassroots clubs facilitate participation for disabled people, with the project winning the 2023/24 UEFA Grassroots Award for best disability initiative.
“One of the main headlines [from the research] was that only 29 per cent of disabled people felt like they were supported to join a grassroots club,” explained Philip Heap, national development manager (disability pathway) at the English FA.
“The barriers that prevented disabled people joining football clubs were mostly self-perception.
“Some felt they weren’t good enough to play football at a club or that the coaches wouldn’t know how to include them and adapt the delivery. Some felt it might be too competitive or that there weren’t any local opportunities. But most often it was around concerns that they wouldn’t fit in.”
As part of the research, clubs were asked what support they needed to develop a better provision for disabled people. The research found many clubs lacked the confidence, competence and knowledge to be effective in this area.
“We found that all three of those factors were low,” said Heap. “But, encouragingly, their motivation was really high. There was a desire to do it, but they needed some help to build knowledge, which in turn will build confidence, which, ultimately, means they’ll have the competence to do it.”
The UEFA Grassroots Awards are annual awards given to grassroots football clubs and projects that have made outstanding contributions to the game across Europe. Candidates are nominated by Europe’s national football associations, with the winners selected by UEFA’s Development and Technical Assistance Committee following recommendations from UEFA’s Grassroots Panel.
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