Football Development

Our purpose is to increase the participation, quality and enjoyment of grassroots football within the County.

Oxfordshire FA’s 2008-12 Strategy sets out the following key goals:

Increasing and Sustaining Participation
Raising Standards and Addressing Abusive Behaviour
Developing Better Players and Recruiting and Supporting a Skilled and Diverse Coaching Workforce
Leading and Governing the Game Efficiently

Football development plays a key role throughout the county’s 4 year strategy sustaining and increasing the number of clubs and teams, creating a safe and positive environment, improving the quality and access of training and playing facilities as well as recruiting and developing better players, coaches, referees and volunteers.

Oxfordshire FA has a dedicated football development team working closely with a wide range of partners and key stakeholders to drive the game forward in the county. These partners include Local Authorities, Oxfordshire Sports Partnership, School Sport Partnerships, Abingdon and Witney College, Local Universities, Primary Care Trusts and numerous local football partnerships and community groups.

Now in the second year of the county strategy the development team are working on the following priorities:

Growth & Retention

- Addressing the decline in Men’s 11 a-side
- Development of the Youth male game (14-16 drop out)
- Continual growth of female football
- Sustaining existing disability structures

Raising Standards
- Increasing % of youth teams playing in FA accredited clubs
- Increasing the number of FA accredited Development clubs
- Increasing the number of FA accredited leagues
- Addressing poor behaviour – Respect Programme

Better Players
- Coach Development – Coaches Association, Female Mentoring
- Coach Education – FA Level 1 and Youth Awards
- Female and Disability Player Pathways

Running the Game
- Increasing the % of people that state the OFA are leading the game effectively

Referees
- Recruitment of 92 new referees whilst retaining existing 195
- Development and support of officials
- Talent identification and progression

County Workforce
- Introducing young people to football leadership through the JFO course
- Development of a comprehensive Young Leaders programme
- College-Club student placements
- Development of Welfare Officer networks to safeguard

Facility Development
- Strategic planning to maximise investment
- Supporting new and existing projects to hit county facility need

Marketing & Communication
- Improving the reach, quantity and quality of all communications
- Working more closely with key stakeholders to promote the game and local opportunities