Football has a unique ability to engage young adults. BUCS and The FA are determined to maximise this and encourage development.
BUCS have identified ten Football Development Focus Universities and seven target universities across the country. In conjunction with the FA and County FAs, BUCS will work with the focus and target universities to develop football in six key areas:
• Workforce – Increasing the number of coaches, referees and volunteers at the university.
• Futsal – Introducing Futsal at the university, developing a Futsal league at the university and encouraging both the men’s and women’s teams to enter the BUCS Futsal championships.
• Football Foundation – Assisting the university in applying for grants to improve facilities and enhance overall football development.
• Intra Mural football – Increasing the overall number of small sided and 11-a-side teams.
• Disability – Developing links with disability football clubs in the local area and reducing the barriers of participation for disabled players.
• Club Links and FA Charter Standard – Encouraging both the men’s and women’s sides to become FA Charter Standard clubs and forging links with other Charter Standard clubs within the local community.
The focus universities will work to develop each of the six key areas and target universities will identify one area to target for development. As well as assisting football development at the universities in these areas, BUCS are also providing bursaries for coaching, refereeing and Futsal courses ran for students.
In Hampshire, Southampton Solent University has been identified as a Football Development Focus University and Bournemouth University as a target University. Hampshire FA will be working alongside BUCS and the two institutions to develop football and deliver alongside the National Game Strategy 2008-2012.