Super survey will shape the future

To produce the fullest picture yet of the experiences and views of those involved in the national game from Non-League to Sunday football, contributions are being sought from players, coaches, referees and other officials as well as the staff and volunteers that form the estimated 400,000-strong grassroots football workforce.

Running through to 30 October, the most comprehensive survey ever was launched at Wembley on Tuesday to back up the recommendations outlined in Greg Dyke’s Chairman’s Commission, which sets out the ambition to build football hubs in 30 cities, as well as double the total number of full-size, publicly accessible 3G artificial grass pitches across England to over 1000.

The governing body is also committing £48m directly through its funding of the Football Foundation, as well as investment in 100 new turf pitches and improvements to a further 2000 as part of The FA Pitch Improvement Plan.

Thanks to match funding from the Government, £4m per year is also being invested in grassroots coaching to fund a network of county coaches tasked with improving and supporting coaching through club mentoring programmes.

There will be a drive to get more top level grassroots coaches into the game and an extension of coaching bursaries to encourage more women and people from BAME and LGBT backgrounds into the profession.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn, pictured, said: "We are on the cusp of a real revolution within grassroots football and, as we move forward, it is vital we ensure that we are listening to those that it impacts upon directly.

"Our new four year strategy has been designed to be adaptable to ensure that we are able to meet the key objectives we have set. This will be achieved through listening as well as acting.

"The grassroots football audience consists of a cross section of diverse communities and this survey will help us ensure we service these groups efficiently via a range of methods, from inclusion initiatives to implementing technology.

"And, as we build on the increases in boys and girls participation and growth in disability football, feedback from such a large sample group will help us refine our goals and targets."

For more information and to undertake the survey visit: TheFA.com/grassroots survey.

Image courtesy of www.thefa.com

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