Grassroots on agenda

Thursday, 15 February 2007
A keynote UEFA conference in Helsinki in April will seek to encourage the greater promotion of grassroots activities throughout Europe.

Grassroots drive
The 7th UEFA Grassroots Football Conference, scheduled for 2-5 April in the Finnish capital, will mark another important moment in a concerted UEFA drive which is progressing according to the belief that the élite sector can only flourish if the basis of the game is healthy and thriving. National associations' grassroots managers, instructors and co-ordinators will be invited to the conference, which will also look to develop the UEFA Grassroots Charter, an essential component of the European body's comprehensive support for its 53 member associations.

Motivate and stimulate
UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh said: "The idea of the Charter is that it serves as an endorsement of associations' grassroots programmes. UEFA's job is to motivate the associations, stimulate and support them in building up their grassroots programmes." A series of regional workshops throughout Europe last year helped the associations familiarise themselves with the Charter - underpinning UEFA's overall drive to help improve the associations' structures and leadership at political, administrative and technical levels.

Great enthusiasm
UEFA's Executive Committee approved the creation of a Grassroots Charter in 2004, and it has been taken up with great enthusiasm, with 14 associations signing up so far. Signing the Charter means a national association satisfies certain basic minimum criteria. Associations enter with basic one-star status, and additional stars are given on the basis of specific areas - these include the nurturing of women's and girls' football, social programmes including disability football, number of participants, and the promotion of grassroots football. Up to seven stars are possible, which would mean a national association pursues even more comprehensive policies.

Conference items
Other scheduled items at the conference include club-based development, association activities, and planned work at UEFA EURO 2008™ next summer.

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