Grassroots course heads for Oslo

By Pete Sanderson

Europe's top grassroots football experts will gather in Oslo next week for a keynote UEFA seminar - with their main task to look at the latest developments in the vital grassroots sector of the game.

Crest of a wave
With a spectacular summer of football in Portugal at UEFA EURO 2004™ still fresh in the memory and another UEFA Champions League campaign under way, élite football is currently at an all-time high in Europe. And, when the grassroots coaches meet at the 5th UEFA Grassroots Course in Norway, they will be eager to ensure the game continues to develop in a similarly successful way at the other end of the football spectrum.

Exchange ideas
The course, which runs from Monday to Friday, gives the grassroots coaches from UEFA's 52 member nations the opportunity to share their latest coaching and development ideas. It is also an ideal time to discuss the UEFA Grassroots Charter, which lays down the European body's stance on grassroots football, as well as activities in this sector in recent months and the development of football for the disabled. UEFA pays considerable attention to the grassroots game, in line with its belief that without healthy foundations, the top-level game would be unable to flourish.

A new phase
UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh, an important figure in UEFA's grassroots work to increase the mass participation of football across Europe, stresses the importance of the sport's well-being at its foundations.

'Benefits all levels'
"Grassroots football may sit at the base of the football pyramid but it benefits all levels of the game," said Roxburgh, ahead of the course. "It needs both financial and human investment. It is the responsibility of everyone in football to care for the grassroots - from superstars like David Beckham, to the parents who volunteer to peel the oranges for their children at half-time.

'Promote the game'
"We believe the new Grassroots Programme will help to promote the game in every one of UEFA's 52 nations. It will guarantee that we all learn from each other, have a close co-operation between the associations, and that we give grassroots football a higher profile."

Prestigious attendees
The course will be attended by Croatian great Zvonimir Boban, former German international Hansi Müller and the ex-Switzerland and FC Internazionale Milano coach Roy Hodgson, who is currently in charge of Norwegian club Viking FK.

Football camps
It will welcome a number of guest speakers, including Robin Russell, technical co-ordinator at the English Football Association, who will give an in-depth presentation on Holiday Football Camps and how they can play a crucial role in developing the game.

Starball Match
Willi Hink, head of Amateur Sport, Referees & Women's Football at the German Football Association, will also provide a talk on the success of the 2004 Starball Match in Gelsenkirchen prior to the Champions League final. There will also be a talk from Karen Espelund, who is chairwoman of the UEFA Women's Football Committee, on grassroots football for girls.

Productive week
"The philosophy behind our grassroots activities is that football can do something for people to make their lives more interesting, exciting or stimulating," said Roxburgh. It promises to be a very productive week."
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