grooming victorian footballers

Young Victorian footballers will benefit from $750,000 in Brumby Labor Government funding for Football Federation Australia (FFA), with the help of the Melbourne Victory, to help train and produce players who will go on to be world-beaters and represent their country.

Sport and Recreation Minister James Merlino announced the funding today with the FFA, Football Federation Victoria (FFV) and Melbourne Victory FC and said the community football projects to come out of the grant would change the way the sport was being played in the state.

“This funding will not only help the FFA run projects to encourage participation in football at a community level, it will also revolutionise the way football is being introduced and taught to our young players,” Mr Merlino said.

“The funding, which is over three years, is allocated to various projects across Victoria, particularly in schools, as part of the FFA’s football development plan and will be delivered through FFV and Melbourne Victory.

“Some of these projects are already up and running with great success.”

Mr Merlino said one project, the Small Sided Games strategy, was being trialled in Victoria and was designed to engage more people in the game and improve ball skills and awareness on the field. More than 100 metropolitan clubs and six regional associations have already committed to playing small sided games in the 2008 season.

Melbourne Victory FC’s School 5-a-side Program has also kicked off, with 240 schools and nearly 6000 students booked to take part in over 30 ‘gala’ days taking place throughout Victoria.

The Volunteer Recognition Program and Grassroots Certificate Training Program are also being funded, encouraging more people to get involved in football through voluntary activities and allowing teachers and secondary students to work towards a football coaching qualification.

“It is my hope that these projects will achieve greater participation in school football, by teachers and students alike, as well as engage the wider community in football through voluntary activities and small sided games,” Mr Merlino said.

FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said that the peak body was delighted to partner with the Victorian Government to deliver innovative programs supporting grassroots football.

“Football is enjoyed by thousands of young children around Victoria and supported by a small army of volunteer mums and dads without whom we could not put games on the park every weekend,” Mr Buckley said.

“It’s terrific for us to have the opportunity to pilot these innovative projects with the support of the Government and through Football Federation Victoria.”

Rajan prasad singh
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