FA shares Small Sided Football and Futsal success stories.

The FA Small Sided Football Good Practice Guide 2011-12 is a comprehensive report covering the extensive small sided football development work that has taken place across England between County FAs, commercial small sided football providers and a host of local level partnerships between clubs, leagues, schools, colleges and universities. Small sided football encompasses both five-a-side football and Futsal along with other formats such as 4v4, 6v6, 7v7 and Beach Soccer.

The new FA National Game Strategy 2011-15 details the importance and significance that small sided football’s growth and continued development can have on providing local and flexible formats of football to suit changing consumer lifestyles.

The report showcases a collection of successful small sided football projects and demonstrates the positive impact that a number of FA Small Sided Focus County FAs have achieved in developing small sided football provision and participation. Also included are recent examples of projects that have directly benefited from investment from The FA Small Sided Football Development Fund.

Since successfully launching The FA SSF Development Fund, the following delivery milestones have now been reached which clearly demonstrate the positive impact the fund is having on delivering support and growth to the small sided football sector.

• 46 projects approved by The FA Small Sided Funding Panel contributing to £215,000 being awarded for FA SSF Development Fund projects.

• Total number of ‘new’ adult male and adult female (16 years +) participants playing SSF via FA SSF Development Fund Projects = 13,200.

• Total number of ‘new’ adult male and adult female (16 years +) affiliated SSF teams developed via FA SSF Development Fund Projects = 1,100.

The FA SSF Development Fund will continue to play a vitally important role in helping to build positive and constructive relationships with the SSF commercial providers and will offer The FA a significant degree of influence and leadership within the SSF industry in the coming years.

The FA Small Sided Football Good Practice Guide helps to recognise and acknowledge that small sided football will continue to drive football participation and customer engagement in England. The FA are confident that through the continued investment and knowledge sharing of their expertise in small sided football they can provide the necessary leadership to shape and raise standards that will deliver long term growth of small sided football.

Click here to read The FA Small Sided Football Good Practice Guide.