STIG INGE BJØRNEBYE

Grassroots Reflections

Communication to Grassroots: Can we be heard?

Grassroots values?

Grassroots football every day, every where…

• NFF

• Over 300.000 games played per year

• Club structure – 1913, 14 teams per club

• Coaches - 27 532 teams

• 50% of boys aged 6-12

• 25% of girls aged 6-12

• Countless volunteers!

Top clubs represent only 2,4% of all clubs.

Can they reach out, do they know how, and can they be effective?

From social responsibility and a lot of misunderstanding to player development and an understanding:

• From narrow view, to wide perspectives:

• Skill-evaluation from “touch” to “over all”

• Talent vs. Maturing

• Messi vs. Mastering

Could, or should this be like Barcelona?

Camp Nou Alfheim Stadium

Based on Norwegian sports model We must build our own identity

With humbleness and faith

Best sports nations in the world: (Sport Bild)

Rank Country Population (mill)

1 USA 313

2 China 1 347

3 Germany 81

4 Russia 143

5 Canada 34

6 France 65

7 UK 62

8 Norway 5

9 Australia 22

10 South Korea 48

11 Italy 60

12 Netherland 16

A history of the volunteers movement

Ullevaal 1935 Holmenkollen 1952

Volunteers still vital today:

Our Grassroots Formula

Safety and Mastering

+

Challenge

=

Enjoyment and Development

Activity:

• Create security but also challenges

• Activity which stimulate more activity (on your own)

• Activity as base for belonging

• Enjoy longing for the next SESSION

• Enjoy longing for next SEASON

Last week in Galway:

Årvoll, Oslo vs Irland U-15

0-3

The good feeling!

• The smell of new boots!

• The friends!

• Tournaments

• The sound of a perfect kick!

• Repetitions and mastering!

• Development ownership

”Do we learn by theory and dreams, or by doing?”

Is Norway’s peculiarity a strength or weakness?

Activate as many players as

As long as

To be as good as

Possible

Impossible? I’m possible!

Social responsibility in grassroots football – in conflict with elite development?

• They are dependent on each other!

• They are feeding each other

• They should demand from each other

• They should assist each other

What’s a talent?

• Technique?

• Speed?

• Physical strength?

• Born in January?

• Structure in training ?

• Interest in game?

Who can crack the code?

The most important talent is: Motivation!

Action plan 2012-2015, in short:

• Raised quality on all activities

• Raised competence in key roles

• Raised awareness at club level

• Development depending on continuity

A stronger pathway to football for all.

Games and shapes, in line with modern football

3 vs 3 5 vs 5 7 vs 7 9 vs 9 11 vs 11

Boys 5 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 13 13 - 14 14 -

Girls 5 - 6 7 - 10 11 - 13 13 – 14/15 15 -

Technical description: Junior and Youth Football

Games and shapes, in line with modern football

Why? • Technique

• Tactical flexibility

• Football intelligence

• Speed - Less time, less space

Quality boost with record output?

• treningsøkta.no

• Telenor Xtra

• Quality Club Project

Quality Club Project

Development vs political obstacles in football:

We «sold» the need, the effect, and the concept first:

• Presidency

• Chief executive

• Administration, Development positions

• Grassroots Committee

• Elite Coaching Committee

• The 18 Regional FA’s

This inclusion was necessary

- applauded by the stakeholders

It gave us motivation and power to develop.

Lesson learnt: do the lobbying, get stakeholder buy in first…

Thank you!