FA Club Link Schools is a new programme created by the FA to support the development of tiered football opportunities for young people within Schools.
Research undertaken for the FA National Game Strategy identified the need to develop flexible formats of football and tiered levels of opportunity across the game. 1.1 million 5-11 year olds identified that they would like to join a team with a further 2.5 million young people identifying that they would like to improve their skill.
The FA’s monitoring and evaluation of the School Club Links programme identified that 75% of young people who took part in the programme do not join a club. This supports the need to develop a system that develops tiered levels of opportunity, so we do not lose those young people at the first attempt but put them into a programme that supports their eventual pathway into a club. This will also assist schools in developing their extended activities and support them in delivering the 5 hour a week national agenda for PE and School Sport.
The aim of the programme is to support young people to move into community based clubs or assist schools in developing intra/inter school teams. Initially Schools that have been identified as being part of the FA School Club Link programme will be invited to become a FA Club Link School. Any other School wishing to become a FA Club Link School will need to complete the Expression of Interest Form and return this to Darryl Haden, Senior Football Development Officer.
The Club Link School status lasts for 12 months, and schools signing up will be required to complete an action plan detailing how they intend to support the development of football within their school, and commit to attending a FA Coach Education course within the 12 months. There will also be a benefits package for schools signing up to this programme which includes a £50 Umbro Voucher; access to Umbro Website; access to England tickets via TheFA.com and a National Awards programme.
For further information on the FA Club Link School programme please contact Darryl.haden@kentfa.com.
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