Initiative to tackle decline in adult football
As part of the Football Association’s
‘Mars Just Play’ initiative Scarborough Borough Council’s Sports
Development team have joined forces with Ultimate Soccer Schools of
Whitby to provide an official Just Play! kickabout session.
The sessions will start on
Friday 7 October between 7pm and 8pm at Caedmon School’s astro-turf
pitch and will cost £2 per participant.
All the revenue made from
the scheme will be reinvested back into grassroots football and may
even provide funding for some participants to attend a FA Level 1
coaching course.
Matt Hewison, Scarborough
Borough Council’s Sports Development Officer said: “This is a
fantastic opportunity for us to be involved in a high profile
national scheme and help address the problems of adult
participation in football. Our Just Play! programme is about
playing football, it’s as simple as that.
“We want people to turn up
and be involved in fun, informal sessions led by experienced,
qualified coaches from Ultimate Soccer Schools. No one will be
judged on ability or the kit they have, the aim is to get back to
jumpers for goalposts football.
"We are also really pleased
to gain the status of an official centre, as currently we are the
only Just Play! Scheme within the North Riding County FA
boundary.”
For further details on the
Just Play! kickabout session in Whitby please contact Scarborough
Borough Council’s Sports Development Officer, Matt Hewison on 01723
501984.
Further
information ...
The Football Association’s
Mars Just Play programme is a partnership between the Football
Association and their adult football partner, Mars, the UK’s best
selling chocolate bar that aims to arrest the decline in adult
football. The partnership is aiming to get 150,000 new
participants playing the game for at least 30 minutes a week by
September 2013, and deliver a total of 3.9 million hours of extra
football played each year throughout England.
According to Sport England’s
research, the number of people playing regular grassroots adult
football in England is declining due to a lack of facilities,
increased apathy, inflexible football options and logistical
difficulties that hamper entering the game.
At the heart of the campaign
are Just Play! Kickabouts – a new, informal and fun way to get back
into football. Just Play! Kickabouts will start taking place at
dedicated centres across England this year. A new website has been
launched to help adults find football in their area whether 11 a
side, 5 a side or a new Just Play! Kickabout. Those interested in
this new format of the game can book themselves onto a kickabout in
their area through the website www.TheFA.com/justplay
The FA and Mars are aiming to create over 100 FA Mars Just Play
centres across England by the end of the calendar year. Each centre
will be staffed by FA Mars Just Play Organisers, delivering casual
football sessions that can benefit up to 50 participants at any one
time.