FAI and FAI Schools unveil the Football in Schools Programme ________________________________________ Date: Monday, 03 September 2007 Section: Schools ________________________________________ Launched by former Republic of Ireland Senior International soccer star, Kenny Cunningham, in the Gresham Hotel, the Football in Schools Programme provides a clear guide on how to implement football within the current education system. The Plan, which will operate in conjunction with the Association’s Technical Development Plan, was formulated in consultation with the teachers who currently run existing competitions and teams. The aim of the Football in Schools Programme is to increase the number of football participants in schools over the next three years. This will be achieved by: to increase participation by providing opportunities at an appropriate level to provide well structured age appropriate competitions to provide a pathway and resources for developing coaching to create a support network of management structures and administration to maintain and build strong relationships with key stakeholders FAI Chief Executive, John Delaney, said: “It has been increasingly recognised that schools sport generally has faced significant hurdles in terms of funding, recognition, access to facilities, proper coaching and refereeing. There has been significant change in all these areas at both local and national level, yet there is still considerable work to be done. The support of the schools’ plan by the Football Association of Ireland is a very public and explicit commitment for the benefit of future generations.” Chairperson of FAI Schools, Tom Bolger, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be part of the Schools’ development plan. Its launch marks a watershed in the development of the school’s game in Ireland. From the smallest primary school to the largest secondary schools, the aim, by 2010, is to provide more opportunities for students to play football while also giving teachers an opportunity to develop coaching skills regardless of their current level of expertise. The next three years will be an exciting and challenging time for schools’ football and we look forward to seeing how it progresses.” Former Ireland senior team captain Kenny Cunningham, who retired after earning his 72nd cap against Switzerland in 2005, have his full backing to the initiative. He said: “This is an excellent idea by the FAI and the FAIS. We saw a perfect example of the plan in action today at Larkin College in Dublin where the Boys and Girls in the school were enjoying the wonderful facilities and benefiting from the coaching given by qualified staff.”
