UEFA Grassroots Awards 2023/24: Best Disability Initiative
Thursday, April 25, 2024
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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.
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What disabled people want from their football experience has been at the heart of extensive research conducted by the English Football Association (FA). That research has led to a new package of support for disabled people in grassroots football in England, the impact of which has been recognised with 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," explains Philip Heap, national development manager (disability pathway) at the English FA.
"The barriers that prevented disabled people joining football clubs were mostly self-perception," says Heap. "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."
Helping football clubs support disabled players
As part of the research, football 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," explains 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 results of the research – conducted in partnership with national charity and inclusion specialists the Activity Alliance – have helped the FA develop a new disability football offer, incorporating elements of disability football provision into its accredited clubs programme.
"We pushed really hard to make sure that disability football was prominent within the criteria for the different pathways [in the England Football Accredited Clubs programme]. In order to become a three-star club, the most that can be awarded, you have to have some disability football provision."
"We pushed really hard to make sure that disability football was prominent within the criteria for the different pathways [in the England Football Accredited Clubs programme]," says Heap. "In order to become a three-star club, the most that can be awarded, you have to have some disability football provision."
A comprehensive package of disability football support
To help clubs achieve that ambition, the FA has created a comprehensive support package, consisting of four key components: a digital toolkit; face-to-face education; funding for an experienced disability football ambassador; and Comets – a recreational football programme designed specifically for disabled children aged five to eleven.
"The digital toolkit is designed as a health check for grassroots clubs," explains Heap. "They can identify their strengths and some areas they need to develop. We also offer other considerations and link to lots of other resources."
The face-to-face workshop then helps clubs commit to change through the development of a clear action plan. "It’s a safe space that is really interactive and fun and designed to bring to life the key aspects within the toolkit," Heap outlines. "It helps clubs to commit to change. Action planning is part of the process."
The 2023/24 UEFA Grassroots Awards
Peer-to-peer support is then offered to grassroots clubs through a network of 56 experienced disability ambassadors, who have been trained and recruited by the FA. "The volunteers are real advocates for disability football and have already developed provision in other environments. It means that other clubs can tap into their experiences."
Finally, Comets offers clubs a flexible way to kick-start their disability football offerings and subsequently children’s football participation. "We thought it would be brilliant if we could give the clubs an ‘off the shelf’ programme," says Heap. "The programme is based on research and is designed to provide a safe space for disabled children to play football, belong and just be themselves."
Best disability initiative 2023/24: bronze and silver winners
🥈 Silver: Handifoot development (Belgium)
🥉 Bronze: Futbol Plus (Poland)
What are the UEFA Grassroots Awards?
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.
This year, the UEFA Grassroots Awards are presented in partnership with EA SPORTS FC, as part of the broader partnership between the UEFA Grassroots programme and EA SPORTS FC FUTURES. Each gold winner receives a prize of €10,000 to further contribute to their fantastic work being carried out.
Since their launch in 2010, 142 UEFA Grassroots Awards have been presented to winners from 42 UEFA member associations.