Youth focus for UEFA

UEFA's Jubilee this year is giving European football's governing body an ideal opportunity to underline the importance of youth football.

Nyon date
As UEFA celebrates its 50th birthday this summer, the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final round is taking place in Switzerland until 24 July. The Colovray stadium in Nyon - UEFA's home town in western Switzerland - will be the venue for the U19 final that day, and the nearby UEFA headquarters will host a special Jubilee seminar on youth football next week.

Crucial sector
National youth coaches from all of UEFA's 52 member associations, as well as some special guests, will gather in Nyon from 22-24 July to celebrate 50 years of European youth football - a crucial sector which forms the lifeblood of the game, and which has produced a conveyor belt of world stars who have given joy to millions.

Past, present and future
The event will not only feature a review of youth football over five decades, but an assessment of where the youth sector stands on this continent at the current time, and how even greater progress can be made in the future.

Healthy roots
UEFA is fully aware that the nurturing of top-quality football players is not possible without work undertaken at youth level by coaches, administrators and officials. Unless football's roots remain healthy, the élite sector of the game will be unable to flourish in the long term.

Continental competitions
The European body organises continental competitions for young men at U17, U19 and U21 levels, as well as the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship, and stages competitions such as the UEFA Regions' Cup for amateur players at grassroots level. In this special year in UEFA's life, it was felt that youth and grassroots football should play a fitting role in the Jubilee celebrations, because the sector provides the raw material to ensure the sport's continued wellbeing.

Fitting tribute
Amid the commercial and other developments that the game has undergone in recent times, it must always be remembered that the future depends on the next generation of young players. Consequently, next week's Jubilee youth seminar will be a tribute to those coaches, administrators and officials who have devoted much of their lives to fostering the talents of tomorrow.