FA Football Futures is a programme designed to encourage and support young leaders who wish to volunteer in football. The programme was previously known as FA Step into Sport.
The Football Futures Programme aims to provide young people aged 14-19 years with opportunities to gain valuable voluntary experience within their local school, college or FA Charter Standard Football Club and attend football specific leadership training. The programme also recognises and rewards young volunteers for the hard work and commitment they dedicate to supporting the development of grassroots football within their local communities.
Young people can volunteer in one or more of the 6 Football Futures themes:
• Coaching and working with teams
• Refereeing
• Running Events
• Running and Developing the Game
• Promoting the game (Media)
• Respect
This programme is open to anyone who has an interest in Leadership & Volunteering through Football – You do NOT have to play football to be part of the programme!
There are a wide range of volunteering opportunities across the County in all of the above themes so whether you are an aspiring coach, young referee or someone who enjoys helping run events and activities we want to hear from you! If you would like help finding clubs or events to volunteer for, the Kent County FA can help to find you placements but if you are already volunteering at a charter standard club or at your school you can continue to do so and be rewarded for it!
Benefits & Opportunities
• Recognition of your volunteering and FA certificates rewarded at 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 hours – A great way to improve your CV for the future whether it be college, university or employment.
• Opportunities to attend workshops and courses, some provided especially for young leaders on the Football Futures programme – A great way to further your own development as volunteers.
• The opportunity to attend a county leadership camp and apply to represent Kent County FA at the FA’s National Leadership Camp in July.
• Volunteer placements available with the FA Skills Team, local football clubs, leagues and at County FA events.
• The chance to make new friends and meet other young volunteers from across the county
What next?
If you are not already registered on our Football Futures Programme and would like to sign up, please contact Richard McHugh - Football Development Officer (Education) on richard.mchugh@kentfa.com or 01622 792140 to find out how you can enrol.
Each young leader will be given an induction into the programme where we will explain how to log your hours in your FA log book (provided at induction), provide information about any upcoming training courses and give you any support you need to get volunteering!
If you are an FA Charter Standard Club who would like to support our Football Futures Programme by offering a young volunteer a placement please contact us. Similarly, if you are a secondary school in Kent with a significant number of students interested in being part of Football Futures, please contact us and we can provide a bespoke induction at your school.
For more information on the Football Futures or any other Education Initiatives please contact Richard McHugh on richard.mchugh@kentfa.com or 01622 792140.