Just Play Kickabouts launched nationwide to get adults playing football.

This month sees the launch of FA Mars Just Play! – a new nationwide initiative that aims to get adults back playing football.

The FA MARS Just Play programme is a partnership between MARS, the UK’s best selling chocolate bar, and The FA that aims to arrest the decline in adult football. The partnership is aiming to get 150,000 new participants playing the game for at least 30 minutes a week by September 2013, and deliver a total of 3.9m hours of extra football played each year throughout England.

According to Sport England’s research, the number of people playing regular grassroots adult football in England is declining due to a lack of facilities, increased apathy, inflexible football options and logistical difficulties that hamper entering the game.

At the heart of the campaign are Just Play! Kickabouts – a new, informal and fun way to get back into football. Just Play! Kickabouts will start taking place at dedicated centres across England this summer. A new website launches this week to help adults find football in their area whether 11 a side, five-a-side or a new Just Play! Kickabout. Those interested in this new format of the game can book themselves onto a kickabout in their area through the website by visiting The FA Mars Just Play website by clicking here. 

The FA and Mars are aiming to create over 100 FA MARS Just Play centres across England by the end of the calendar year. Each centre will be staffed by FA MARS Just Play Organisers, delivering casual football sessions that can benefit up to 50 participants at any one time.

As part of a wider legacy around the new scheme, MARS and The FA have committed to ensuring The FA MARS Just Play Organisers and Centres are sustainably managed and able to deliver 800 Just Play sessions run over the next 12 months. Over the course of the partnership, the number of new players across all forms of football, towards the 150,000 target, will be tracked and measured on a quarterly basis through Sport England’s Active People Survey.