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Gibraltar football academy launched

The Gibraltar FA is delighted to announce a new initiative aimed at the development of its young footballers.

GFA

For the first time, all new youth football intakes (under-5 and under-6 categories) will now register with the Gibraltar Football Academy instead of with the association’s member clubs.

The Gibraltar FA, and its member clubs believe that every child should have the right to participate without pressure, as well as the opportunity to fulfil their footballing potential, and this will now become a reality with the Gibraltar Football Academy, which will provide young footballers with a fun, safe and inclusive environment in which to learn the basics of the game.

A solid and detailed recruitment process has been overseen by the Gibraltar FA’s technical department to ensure all the new academy coaches will be trained in basic first aid and safeguarding, and have passed all the relevant local authority vetting procedures, over and above their standard coaching badges and qualifications.

The academy will run throughout the year in line with school holidays and the academic year and will be open for all children entering reception or starting school.

Commitment to youth

The academy has been created as part of the Gibraltar FA’s commitment to youth and as part of its concept of the game as a fun and educational experience for children. It is the product of a year-long collaborative process between the association, Gibraltar’s football clubs and other stakeholders within the football community.

Ivan Robba, Gibraltar FA general secretary, said: “The establishment of the academy is a hugely important step forward for youth football in Gibraltar. It marks a shift in focus to one of learning and enjoyment, something all of us involved in Gibraltarian football have been striving to achieve for many years.

I am particularly pleased that the academy is the outcome of the work carried out over the past year in close cooperation with our clubs, which have always been instrumental in youth football. This shows everyone that the football community, as one, is pulling in the same direction to ensure our children and our children’s children can continue to learn and enjoy the game we love in a safe, comfortable environment.”

This article originally appeared in UEFA Direct 195