The Football Association has today announced an ambitious new three-year plan titled Football Your Way, to help develop, improve and raise awareness of Disability Football in England.
The new plan is the first of its kind and covers seven key areas, demonstrating The FA’s commitment to ensuring that as part of the equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, disabled people have the opportunity to engage and participate in football their way, from grassroots all the way to the elite end of the game. The plan comes under the umbrella of the broader equality, diversity and inclusion strategy which is about creating A Game For All.
The launch of the three-year plan, from 2021-2024, outlines the organisation’s intentions to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce from inside The FA and out, and from top to bottom, whilst also growing participation, increasing the number and quality of coaches, developing an inclusive and diverse talent pathway, increasing support for elite players and raising the profile of disability football at every level.
Football Your Way will allow The FA to create and sustain a culture across the sport where disabled people have access to all opportunities and feel they truly belong, both on and off the pitch.
As a delivery partner of the FA, CP Sport work with the FA to develop more opportunities for people with cerebral palsy to have access to preferred formats of football. The FA provide guidance and governance for the delivery and support of new developments of the various formats of football.
Adi Fawcett, COO of CP Sport said:
“The FA’s Gameplan for Disability Football provides an excellent opportunity to work with our partners at the FA and in our role on the GB Disability FA Board to improve all aspects of disability football. Supporting the development of inclusive pathways for cp footballers, both male and female teams, and working to increase the number of people with cp being introduced to and enjoying all aspects of the game. We are excited to see how the plan develops over the next few years and the opportunities it will bring to the cp community at all levels of the game.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted on participation levels and this plan will help those affected by providing a platform to overcome setbacks and bring people back together.
CP Sport promote workforce development opportunities through the FA’s coach education programme, and provide specific advice and guidance from a cerebral palsy perspective. The CP Sport Football Development Officer, funded by the FA works with the county FA’s to develop new opportunities and link with networks and partners at a local level, growing the numbers of young people and adults with cerebral palsy taking part including developing specific hubs to increase female cp participation..
CP Sport have developed Frame Football skills cards which can be found on the FA Disability Hub and also offer a Frame rental service for individuals to loan equipment in partnership with Quest.
More information about CP Football and Frame Football can be found at: https://cpsport.org/sports/ and upcoming events at: https://cpsport.org/events
The FA’s new plan for Disability Football can be found at: www.TheFA.com