1. FA DISABILITY FOOTBALL

2. OBJECTIVES -Update on FA Disability Programme; -Update on proposed work with BUCS; -Provide an insight into international / elite football and the relevance to higher education. -Inspire, challenge and change!

3. FA PHILOSOPHY The FA believes that appropriate competition should be made available to all people whatever their level of ability; The FA believes that disabled people should be playing in mainstream football competition however they realise that some disabled players may be better provided for in competitive football such as ‘pan disability’ or impairment-specific football on a temporary or permanent basis; The FA also aims to provide player development pathways to elite level for various impairments such as Blind and Cerebral Palsy and the resulting competitions needed to support the player’s development.

4. KEY STATISTICS 2011-12 GRASSROOTS -115,000 participants weekly (APS); -180,000 participants monthly (APS); -1250 affiliated disability football teams (CAS); -35 County Disability Leagues; -7 th largest team sport nationally (SE); TALENT -26 Player Development Centres; -17 Impairment Specific Centres of Excellence; -4 England Development Squads and 4 Senior Squads; -GB Blind and Cerebral Palsy Squads.

5. OPPORTUNITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION -Utilising the student workforce (awareness); -Informal introductions to the game (MARS JUST PLAY CENTRES); -Access to facilities (linking provision to and with the community); -Identification of players with a disability; -Student placements in talent and grassroots pathways (sports performance support); -Research opportunities (eligibility, classification, sports performance and science, community sports development, etc); -Team generation and regionally based competition.

6. GETTING STARTED?? -Make contact with your CFA or The FA; -Raise awareness of disability football (a programme of education): -FA COACHING DISABLED FOOTBALLERS COURSE; -FA COACHING DEAF FOOTBALLERS COURSE; -FA COACHING BLIND FOOTBALLERS COURSE; -FA DISABILITY TALENT SELECTION WORKSHOP; -FA DISABILITY EQUALITY WORKSHOP. -Talent Identification DVD.