UEFA and grassroots football

What are the objectives of UEFA’s grassroots football programmes?

UEFA defines grassroots football as all football that is non-professional and non-elite. For example: children's football, school and youth football, amateur football, football for disabled players, football for veterans and walking football.

All our grassroots programmes are guided by the UEFA Grassroots Charter, introduced in 2004 and updated periodically since. This sets out both UEFA’s vision and mission for developing grassroots football across Europe:

1. Our grassroots vision: to ensure everyone, everywhere in Europe has an equal opportunity to play the game in a safe, quality-controlled environment – regardless of age, ability, ethnicity or gender.

2. Our grassroots mission: to maximise the number of registered players and organised football activities under the auspices of UEFA’s 55 member associations .

Why is grassroots football important to UEFA’s overall mission?

Improving grassroots football in every European country is central to fulfilling UEFA’s overall mission – making football the most played, trusted, engaging and responsible sport.

First, it creates a solid foundation for the game, both increasing participation rates by offering opportunities to play football for everyone, and serving as the first stepping stone for talented girls and boys to start their journey to elite levels. Research shows that a positive, first-time experience is more likely to ensure players, coaches, volunteers and fans remain in the game for life.

Second, it provides a platform for using the game's popularity and influence to deliver benefits beyond the pitch. Whatever its level or format, football teaches positive values, promotes a healthy lifestyle, connects communities and creates a level playing – all key goals for UEFA’s football and social responsibility activities.

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What is the UEFA Grassroots Charter?

First approved in 2004, the UEFA Grassroots Charter sets standards and initiatives for European grassroots football development. The charter is regularly reviewed and will be updated again later in 2021.

We also provide annual funding for associations to invest in activities related to the charter, through UEFA’s HatTrick development programme. This reinvests EURO revenue back into the game. For the 2020–24 HatTrick cycle, UEFA is providing a total €44 million for associations to invest in grassroots football.

How does the Grassroots Charter work?

In 2019, UEFA presented three main areas of focus for its Grassroots Charter at the Grassroots Conference in Minsk:

1. Football in Schools

Many European children will have their first experience of football at school. It is estimated that for 80% of boys and girls, physical education lessons are the only opportunity to engage in regular exercise.

Launched in 2019, the Football in Schools initiative recognises that national football associations need to work closely with European public education authorities to achieve one of UEFA’s key grassroots goals: making sure all children can play football in safe, inclusive and enjoyable environments. From 2020 to 2024, UEFA will channel €11 million in funding to support football in schools across Europe – one quarter of the total amount available for grassroots football. Cumulatively, all 55 UEFA member associations are expected to invest an additional €6.5m matched by governments and other institutions.

To increase the number of youngsters benefitting from the game’s core values, such as teamwork and fair play, the initiative emphasises the importance of training teachers and fostering partnerships with schools.

2. Grassroots coach education

Following the approval of its fourth Coaching Convention, UEFA conducted a review of its grassroots coaching qualification. This helped to identify the basic skills that coaches need to demonstrate to qualify for the new UEFA C diploma.

The diploma will have a major impact on the quality of grassroots football experiences for players, ensuring that coaches are introduced to age-appropriate coaching methodology and content suitable for the modern-day child/player.

3. Club development

As a cornerstone of local communities, grassroots football clubs play an essential role in increasing football participation rates and providing players of all levels and abilities with a quality experience.

UEFA has created a grassroots club development working group to help associations provide support across a range of activities critical to a well-run grassroots club: governance, financial planning, volunteer management and, most critically, child welfare and safety.

Impact of UEFA Grassroots Charter: the score so far (September 2021)

Football in Schools

• September 2019: initiative launched in Ljubljana with football festival involving children from Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia.
• 55 association football in school plans approved
• Weekly online forum has allowed associations to share best practice and present case studies on how they plan to deliver their own Football in Schools projects.

Grassroots coach education

• April 2021: new UEFA C diploma launched for grassroots football coaches. The minimum 60-hour course is open to anyone, from parents and volunteers to teachers and individuals already holding a training position.
  
  The C diploma offers an introduction to coaching as well as opening a development pathway to enhance skills.

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Club development

• UEFA’s grassroots club development working group is finalising a framework for grassroots club development. This will provide the basis for a series of webinars and workshops where associations can share their own club development plans for review.

What is the UEFA Grassroots Conference?

First staged in 1999, the UEFA Grassroots Conference, held every two years, brings together grassroots managers from all 55 member associations, as well as FIFA representative and, delegates from the other football confederations. The conference allows UEFA to present its long-term vision for the grassroots sector. The most recent conference was staged in Minsk in 2019 with the next edition scheduled for 15–17 March 2022 in Madrid.

What are UEFA’s Grassroots Awards?

Since 2010, UEFA’s annual Grassroots Awards have recognised leaders, clubs and projects throughout Europe for their outstanding contribution to grassroots football.

Each year, all 55 UEFA member associations are invited to nominate candidates. Winners are selected by UEFA's Executive Committee, based on recommendations from the Grassroots Panel and the Development and Technical Assistance Committee. The 2022 winners will be announced at next year’s Grassroots Conference in Madrid, when UEFA will recognise standout achievements in the following areas of grassroots football activity:

• Best amateur football club
• Best professional football club
• Best disability initiative
• Best society initiative
• Best participation initiative

When is UEFA Grassroots Week?

The UEFA Grassroots Week takes place every September during the European Commission's European Week of Sport. Both UEFA and its 55 member associations use the week to encourage participation in all forms of football and highlight outstanding grassroots football projects across Europe.

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