As the national governing body for football, The FA is responsible for the governance, administration and development of the traditional eleven-a-side format, mini soccer for children and small sided football, which includes five-a-side, six-a-side, seven-a-side and futsal.

There has been considerable growth in the small sided football sector during the past five years, with the number of facilities, and the sport's popularity, increasing every year.

Dermot Collins, The FA's National Development Manager for Small Sided Football, explained the purpose of the award: "There are now four million people playing small sided football in England and there has been an increasing demand from participants and providers for The FA to promote a quality standard for the sport."

The aim of The FA small sided football award is to aid the continued development of the sport by offering recognition and benefits to those providers that attain the quality standards. It is also intended that the programme will promote best practice guidelines for centres and tournament organisers, enhance the awareness and profile of small sided football, and encourage participation opportunities for all players, referees and coaches.

To achieve the award a provider will be monitored by self-assessment, inspections and mystery visits, using criteria that assess both the facility and the management of the centre. Further information about small sided football is available here.

The FA is currently recruiting and training assessors and will soon be inviting applications from small sided football providers. It is expected that the first centres will be assessed in the New Year.