To best structure delivery of all aspects of Football Development we produce a County FA Strategy; the current Strategy runs from 2008 until 2012. The key aims and objectives are aligned to those set by the FA as National Governing Body as follows:-
- Increasing and Sustaining Participation
- Raising Standards and Addressing Abusive Behaviour
- Developing Better Players and Recruiting and Supporting a Skilled and Diverse Coaching Workforce and football Volunteers generally
- Leading and Governing the Game Efficiently
- Providing advice and support for Funding of Facilities
- Marketing & Promotion of all aspects of the Strategy and its delivery
Delivery of the Strategy is made possible by the effective partnership working with a whole host of other stakeholders working together for the betterment of football and football opportunities in the County. These partners include Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Council, the Wiltshire & Swindon Sports Partnership, Schools Sports Partnerships, Swindon Town Football in the Community, Swindon Local Football Partnership, Sport England, the Football Foundation, Schools, Colleges & Universities, the Wiltshire County Football Coaches Association, Town & Parish Councils, Primary Care Trusts and sponsors of football.
Crucially sustaining football and its future development would not be possible without so much volunteer time given by those administering leagues and competitions, helping to run clubs and teams, those who referee matches and not least those who play and enjoy the game!
During the second year of the Strategy some headline achievements against the key aims & objectives have been as follows: -
Growth & Retention
- Sustaining no.s in the adult 11v11 male game (teams increased from 389 to 404)
- Development of the youth 11v11 male game (teams increased from 411 to 436)
- Continual growth of female football 11v11 game (teams increased from 11 to 15)
- Continual growth of youth female 11v11 game (teams increased from 36 to 45)
- Sustaining existing disability structures (teams created providing football across a range of disabilities)
- Providing for mini soccer, smaller sided, flexible formats of football and pathways advice and support
Raising Standards
- Increasing % of mini soccer & youth teams playing in FA Charter Standard from 53% to 68% during the year
- Increasing the number of FA Charter Standard Community Clubs to 3.
- Increasing the number of FA Charter Standard Development Clubs to 6.
- Attaining the first Charter Standard League status for Wiltshire (North Wilts Youth & Minor League)
-Increasing the no. of Leagues signed up to the RESPECT campaign from 4 to 13.
Better Players
- Providing a diverse football development, coach education, and referees training and education programme
- During the year the no. of FA Level 1 coaches qualified through the WCFA programme has risen from 262 to 617.
- Operating the Centre of Excellence for Girls at U10, U12,U14 & U16s with above average FA technical and administrative inspections during the year and achieving confirmation of FA support for 2010/11
Running the Game
- Increasing the % of people that state the WCFA are leading the game effectively from 62 to 64%
Referees
- Registered and active male referees increased from 272 to 334 - Registered and active female referees increased from 4 to 7
- Development, mentoring, assessment and support of officials
- Talent identification and progression
County Workforce
- Working with schools and clubs in introducing young people to football leadership through the JFO courses
- Development of a comprehensive Step into Sport Young Leaders programme
- School/Club links work
Facility Development
- Support, advice and signposting for facilities projects
- Supporting new and existing projects to maximise investment in areas of proven need
Marketing & Communications
- Seeking to improve the quality and range of our communications and those with partners to promote the game from both national and local perspectives