The Football Association co-sponsored the PE and Sport Zone with PE & Sport Today magazine, where demonstrations were regularly taking place, and also had an interactive exhibition stand to provide information on The FA's Education Development programme. 

Since the publication of The FA's Football Development Strategy 2001-2006, The FA's own focus on working in and alongside the Education Sector has increased dramatically, lead by Donna McIvor, The FA's Education Development Manager and her team around the country.

"Getting children involved in football is a major FA priority", said Donna, "and as well as discovering and nurturing young talent, football in schools helps children develop life skills like teamwork, sportsmanship, motivation and fitness."

"Through The FA National Football Development Strategy, we're helping schools make football part of the curriculum from Key Stage 2 (junior school) right through to GCSE and beyond." 

At a time when more and more children are giving up active sport - to sit glued for hours in front of their games consoles - and when schools over the last twenty years have seen playing fields sold off or after-school clubs disbanded, The FA's investment and support comes at a crucial time.

Last year saw the launch of The FA TOP Sport Football programme, specifically targeted at providing teachers with coaching on the basics of the national game, as well as providing much needed resources such as goals, footballs, bibs and coaching cards. The programme is a £6million investment by The FA over 3 years - concluding in July 2004 - which will include every single primary, and special needs school in the country.

During the Education Show, children from the Grete Primary School in Small Heath, and Bourneville Warriors JFC came to the NEC to take part in active TOP Sport sessions within the Activities Zone, ran by Birmingham FA's Coach Education and Schools Liaision Officer Howard Wheeldon. Said Howard:

"In the last two and a half years, since the formation of The FA National Game Division and the appointment of County Football Development Officers, schools have begun to have a network of support from The FA.

"In most schools, teachers involved with coaching football perhaps lack a bit of knowledge in some places, and the TOP Sport Football course gently introduces them to some of the finer points when coaching the basics to children.

"At this stage of the children's education it is important that the coaching is fun and that we allow children to develop their skills, but at the same time, we also must ensure teachers or other adult helpers are aware of their responsibilities, in setting the right examples." 

Almost every County FA has two full-time FDO's who aim to increase participation at a local level by liasing with local schools and clubs. The FA's intention is to improve standards of coaching, child protection and accessibility through programmes such as the FA Charter Standard schemes, and so for those children who want to play football outside of school, the FDO's can try and link schools to local junior football clubs who are also aspiring to the above standards.

You may be forgiven for thinking that The FA's focus is solely on the junior end of the educational spectrum, but you'd be wrong. Youth football simply wouldn't happen without adult involvement and support.

The FA's Football Development Strategy sets out standards for football coaches supporting PE in schools and Specialist Sports colleges, and The FA are also heavily involved in volunteer and leadership development.

Through the FA Junior Football Organisers Course, The FA have already provided specific football related training for approximately 400 teachers, and perhaps more significantly, trained approximately 1,500 Year 10 and 11 students to deliver the course themselves - a real investment in football's future. 

Jo Malone, a Comprehensive School teacher at Cockshot Hill Technology College in Birmingham, is also a qualified FA JFO Course Tutor, and has already seen the benefits of the course.

"The JFO course is excellent for children who are approaching their GCSE's, and in some cases may be already thinking about careers. The JFO course gives the kids a chance to build on teamwork and leadership skills, as well as planning a coaching session and then delivering it.

"The work that The FA is doing to support schools is currently light years ahead of any other sporting governing body."

The feedback at this year's show is indicative of the progress that The FA have been making in the field of Education Development, with schools across the country becoming more and more aware of the coaching, equipment and funding support that is now available for them from The FA.

Alex Stone

If you would like more information on The FA's continued support and commitment to Education Development, log on to the Education section of TheFA.com , or e-mail: Donna.McIvor@TheFA.com