EDSO's football promotion for deaf people

As part of its Football for All Abilities portfolio, UEFA has established partnerships with a group of organisations with the objective of deploying football to broaden the inclusion of players of all abilities, in addition to marginalised or excluded groups.

The programme has enabled each participating organisation to develop its work and activities and look to the future with a positive eye. Meanwhile, the organisations themselves have helped sportsmen and women realise cherished ambitions. The European Deaf Sports Organisation (EDSO) is one of the six bodies within UEFA's portfolio, and is carrying out splendid work to promote and present football and futsal opportunities for deaf people.

EDSO has been in existence since 1983 as a sports body working on behalf of the deaf community within Europe. The body looks after 27 sports, with football and futsal the main team games. "Our eighth men's and women's European football championship final round takes place in Hanover, Germany, in June 2015, with eight men's teams and four women's qualifying from Europe for the world championship in 2016. The fourth European futsal championship final round was held in Bulgaria in November, with qualification for the world championship in Thailand in November 2015," says EDSO's football technical director Andrew Scolding, who oversees the European championships in both football and futsal, and acts as an adviser to publicise the two within the 42 EDSO member countries.

Football for the deaf is flourishing across the globe. In addition to world championships for football and futsal, there is an Olympic Games for deaf sportsmen and women – the Deaflympics. In Europe, domestic competitions are in place in certain countries, and EDSO gives its backing to the Deaf Champions League – an elite club competition involving the continent's top teams. Futsal in particular is growing in encouraging style. "The reason is simple," Scolding explains. "As a rule of thumb, one in six people in Europe are hearing impaired. So it is easier for smaller countries with smaller populations to raise a team."

The measurement of deafness is laid down in the EDSO football/futsal technical regulations. Players are eligible if they have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in the better ear. International Sign is used as the main method of communication, while coaching is undertaken through demonstration, as well as the advice given through a sign-language interpreter. Referees have an additional signal, using a small flag to wave and indicate that they are stopping the game, and the same kind of flag is used by assistant referees.

A committee of dedicated members runs EDSO's football operation. "We have video conferences and talk in International Sign [language] with the help of the software," says Scolding. "Technology is becoming better and more beneficial for deaf people. Email is another option to communicate, and people translate into their own language by using online translation tools."

The body is deeply committed to advocating friendship and inclusion – a key requirement to be a partner in UEFA's Football for All Abilities portfolio. "Football is the universal language," says Scolding, "regardless of disabilities, ethnic, gender or religious differences, and with the deaf communities friendships are great because they transcend borders and politics."

EDSO is extremely grateful for the resources provided by UEFA. "They are used mostly to improve the standard of competitions, as well as for recruitment and specialist training for referees and coaches," continues Scolding, aware that UEFA's hand of partnership helps to lend EDSO credibility. "EDSO is also working together with national football bodies to find solutions to assist deaf players in their own countries. UEFA's help is very important, especially in terms of receiving technical advice and getting information across to the public."

There is also a clear bridge between deaf football and mainstream football for coaches and players – for example, England's futsal team manager Peter Sturgess has also coached the England deaf futsal team in European and world championships – and EDSO is undertaking determined work at grassroots level and striving to bring more youth players on board.

The future looks bright for EDSO and its admirable officials and participants. "Our objective is to enhance players' health," Scolding reflects, "and for them to enjoy the experience and opportunities presented by playing football." And what would be Andrew Scolding's advice to a deaf person wishing to take up the game? "Play football, no matter how deaf you are – and enjoy," he emphasises. "You are physically able to play football like everyone else, as deafness is certainly seen as an 'invisible' disability. So when you play football or futsal, you will be looking out for your team-mates and be using your skill to the best of your ability."