The Technician: How UEFA's development tournaments provide young talents with enriching player development experiences

During the 2024/25 season, 46 UEFA development tournaments for boys and girls at Under-15 and Under-16 level took place across Europe. "The UEFA development tournaments are designed to offer young, promising players their first taste of international matches," explains Olivier Doglia, UEFA head of technical education and development. "By participating in these events, players gain valuable experience representing their national teams and encountering diverse styles and intensities of football in a developmental rather than competitive setting."

Putting the 'player first' in grassroots football

How to put the 'player first' in all grassroots activity was the central theme of the 14th UEFA Grassroots Conference held in Sopot, Poland, in April.

"Ultimately, the game of football is about players," explained Les Howie, UEFA grassroots mentor. "It's about playing the game, the love of the game and the joy of the game. Working in grassroots is all about creating the pathways where each individual can find their right level. For those who want to be players all their lives, it’s about giving them the opportunity to do that, to get a little bit better and to have great experiences along the way."