Action in the B1 League for blind football

Disability

From Grassroots to the Elite Game

opportunities for all

There's Never Been a Better Time to Play

Safeguarding and Welfare
From grassroots to the elite game, whether you’re a coach or a player, you can take part in disability football. There are now more opportunities than ever to play football if you have a disability.
 
There has never been a better time to get involved, whatever your ability level. Within Essex our disability programme has continued to grow and we are leading the way in developing Soccability football initiatives across the county.

Find Your Local Team   Setting Up a Team

turn-up and play

paths to progress

As a player there are opportunities for any age and ability to join in either recreationally, through a ‘Turn-Up and Play’ Centre, competitively within our Soccability League teams which have progressed players into national teams.

We currently run sessions which cater for a range of impairments, so please get in touch with your local Football Development Officer if you’d like to find out more.
Players
Para Football England Talent Day
play for england

PARA TALENT PATHWAY

Have you always dreamed of playing for England? The dream is on. We want to give more players with specific impairments the opportunity to play for England Para teams and get them on the England Para Talent Pathway.

We’re looking for those with cerebral palsy, visual or hearing impairments who have the skills and a dream, to step up and play for their country. Do you know somebody who fits the bill? If this is you, or someone you know, all you need to do is register your interest.
fa guidance on age groups

Dispensation policies

The FA’s rules, specifically the standard code of rules for youth competitions (SCORY), prescribe age groups for children to play in which are designed to ensure that they compete with peers of similar size and development.

However, for some children with a disability or significant physical development delay (SPDD), playing in the prescribed age group would put them at a substantial disadvantage to their non-disabled team mates, discouraging them from being involved or making it impossible for them to access football altogether. The FA dispensation policy enables disabled children to play football in an age group other than that prescribed by their date of birth, providing all necessary criteria of the dispensation policy and assessment process is met. Find further details via the following link, and in 'Related Documents' below.

Disability, Coaching, For All, Coaching Disability
Full-time and WGS Online Club Administration
Our Soccability League is open to people with any disability/impairment and footballing ability. It’s played in three age groups (Under 12s, 16s and Adults) and in five categories (Premiership, Championship, League One, League Two and Fun).

We welcome players who are able to cope physically, with good levels of spatial awareness, strong footballing ability, who can understand tactics and have a good level of physical strength and fitness. Players with limited mobility, spatial awareness and fitness and basic or no footballing ability can also take part.