The ability to succeed

By Mark Chaplin

Disabled footballers will occupy the spotlight again later this month, when UEFA brings together its national associations and other interested parties for the latest meeting of its Disability Football Panel in Nyon, Switzerland.

Grassroots focus
Football for the disabled has been earmarked as one of UEFA's key grassroots activities by the body's football development division. The European body also maintains a close and valuable relationship with the Special Olympics football development project promoting football for individuals with learning disabilities.

Charity cheque
In addition, last summer, UEFA awarded its annual CHF1m (€650,000) charity cheque to the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID). The body furthers sport for people with intellectual disability within an international movement grouping more than 80 countries.

Football for everyone
"UEFA's stance as far as the grassroots sector is concerned is 'football for everyone'," said UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh. "This obviously applies to disabled footballers as well." UEFA are not alone in highlighting the sector. The inaugural Football for Disabled People Conference was held in Manchester last month, organised by the English Football Association under the motto 'The Ability to Succeed'.

Oslo presentations
"Both we and Europe's national associations place considerable importance on this sector, and we gave a morning of our recent grassroots conference in Oslo to football for the disabled, when we had both presentations and practical demonstrations," added Roxburgh. "A disabled delegate gave an impressive and moving speech to 120 people to highlight the issue."

Added stimulus
UEFA is encouraged to see the extent of the attention being paid to disabled football by its 52 member associations. "We certainly are hearing a lot more about the work being done by the different countries," said Roxburgh. "We're also asking the associations to identify the best schemes for disabled footballers in their countries, to give additional stimulus to the movement."

Coaching disabled players
The proper coaching of disabled footballers is one key issue that remains at the forefront of discussions on this sector. Roxburgh says that there is considerable pleasure to be gained from helping such players to experience the buzz of training, learning and playing. "It's an absolute joy, and I can say this from personal experience," he explained. "Especially when you've adapted coaching methods to the group that you're looking after.

Active role
"Coaches have to give great thought to their work with disabled players," the UEFA technical director continued. "Sometimes there may have to be two coaches, and you might have to also give a helping hand by actually carrying out an exercise with the player to show how it is done. Consequently, what you would tend to do is to keep things highly structured at the start until the players have understood a concept."

Blind football
Developments in the sector of blind football are also on the Nyon agenda. "Just imagine how it must be to play football and read the game if you can't actually see," Roxburgh reflected. "Blind footballers can play with a ball that has bells in it. I have one of these types of balls at home. I've practiced with one while shutting my eyes, and I can tell you how difficult it is. Blind players use other senses to read the game, and that is something that is remarkable.

Every admiration
"There are so many positive things to see and learn about football for the disabled," Roxburgh concluded. "I have every admiration for these players - and I can tell you that there are some extremely good players among them."