In 2004, The FA launched its Disability Football Strategy with a commitment to developing disability football from grassroots level through to England squads.
Our strategy placed football for disabled people as a key element in football development and stated clear aims and objectives for the next three years. The driving force for the implementation of the strategy has been the Disability Advisory Group, chaired by Sue Hough. The FA pledged £1.2m towards grassroots participation and
National disability squads, but it has also vowed to double the number of specially trained coaches who are qualified to coach disabled children and adults in communities across the country.
The FA supports six international disability squads for players with specific impairment. These are: Blind, Partially Sighted, Deaf, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disability and Amputee. The teams all receive official England kit, full medical support, a technical adviser and funding towards travel costs for attending European and World Championships.
Recent achievements have seen the England Learning Disability team return home from the Global Games in Sweden as champions, the England Blind team were runners-up in the European Blind Championships, while the England Amputee team finished a commendable third in the World Championships in Rio de Janeiro. The proof is there that our strategy is working, with each specific impairment group having improved
their World or European ranking since The FA’s involvement.
At Staffordshire FA we appointed disability coach Jamie Leaning who does work all around the county including work with:
• Special schools
• Disability Coaching Centre in Burton on Trent
• FA Charter Standard Clubs
• Stoke City FC Centre of Excellence
• Day Centres
Jamie is available free of charge to any organisation who works with disabled children or adults. He has undertaken specific training on how to coach disabled players and work to FA guidelines.
The Staffordshire FA believes in promoting 'Football for All', the disability strategy is a further indication of this philosophy and with it's continued financial commitment a pathway has been developed to enable all disabled people to reach their potential as a player, coach, referee or administrator, this can be achieved by booking on and attending the following courses:
• 1st4sport Levels 1-3 certificate in Coaching Football
• Coaching disabled footballers course
• Junior Football Organisers course
• Referees Courses
For further information please contact the Staffordshire FA Development team on 01785 256994