The UEFA Study Group Scheme, the ambitious football programme which heralds a new era in technical co-operation across Europe, is moving confidently into a second season after a highly successful first campaign in 2008/09.

Technical know-how and expertise
An initiative of UEFA President Michel Platini, the scheme aims to facilitate a greater exchange of technical know-how and expertise, and is looking to raise pan-European standards through visits by association specialists – with the help of UEFA funding – to gather technical knowledge from other associations, and their clubs.

Valuable exchange
Feedback has been excellent from UEFA's 53 member associations, all of which are contributing to the project. The scheme is seen as an extremely valuable technical exchange which encourages development. In addition, it stimulates the role of those who take ideas and concepts back to their own associations for deployment. Senior technical staff in each association have played a full role in the programme.

52 visits
A total of 52 visits are planned for the 2009/10 season – one more than last term. Sixteen will centre on élite youth football, 13 will focus on coach education, 13 more will look at grassroots football and ten will deal with women's football. A total of 24 associations have agreed to play host to visits, and seminars are already under way throughout Europe. This week, for example, four seminars are taking place, with 12 European associations in attendance.

156 groups
Each member of the UEFA development and technical committee has taken part or will participate in an upcoming visit. A total of 156 groups of eleven members will travel to other associations – all associations will be sending eleven-member groups, and no fewer than 1,716 football technicians around Europe will be involved in the second year of this extremely worthwhile venture.