IntroductionThe FA is committed to improving footballfacilities at all levels of the game. In orderto support the National Facilities Strategy,this document provides an introduction toinformation that is currently being developed by The FA with regards to technical guidance and support for organisations wishing to develop their facilities. It highlights the key areas that impact on The NationalGame with regards to facility provision and development. The information provided in this document will be underpinned by further detailed information on The FA website. The guidance will be of interest to a wide range of organisations in identifying key information such as playing pitch sizes, goalpost dimensions, outline maintenance plans, performance standards, design information and technical guidance relating to every aspect of grass-roots facility development. The web-site guidance notes will follow the format as set out in this document.

The FA has a well developed network ofRegional Facilities Managers who are ableto assist in offering guidance and advice indeveloping your organisations facilities. The contact details of these officers are includedin Appendix A of this document, as are theaddresses of all County Football Associations.

The FA welcomes feedback from clubs,organisations, Architects and Consultants with regards to any aspect of facility development and you are encouraged to ask questions, provide feedback and examples of best practice where appropriate via The FA website as highlighted in section 11 of this document.

Goalpost SafetyThe Football Association, along with theDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport,the Health and Safety Executive and theBritish Standards Institution, would liketo draw your attention to the followingguidelines for the safe use of goalposts.Too many serious injuries and fatalities haveoccurred in recent years as a result of unsafe or incorrect use of goalposts. Safety is always of paramount importance and everyone in football must play their part to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.

1. For safety reasons goalposts of any size (including those which are portable and not installed permanently at a pitch or practice field) must always be anchored securely to the ground;

2. Portable goalposts must be secured as per the manufacturer’s instructions;

3. Under no circumstances should children or adults be allowed to climb on, swing or play with the structure of the goalposts;

4. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that if not properly assembled and secured, portable goalposts may overturn; and

5. Regular inspections of goalposts must be carried out to check that they are properly maintained.

6. Portable goalposts should not be left in place after use. They should be dismantled and removed to a place of secure storage.

7. The use of metal cup hooks on goals was banned from the commencement of 2007/08 season and match officials have been instructed not to commence matches where such net fixings are evident for safety reasons. Nets should only be secured by plastic hooks, net grips or tape and not by metal cup hooks. Any metal cup hooks should have been removed and replaced. New goalposts should not be purchased if they include metal cup hooks.

8. Goalposts which are “home made” or which have been altered from their original size or construction should not be used. These have been the cause of a number of deaths and injuries.

9. There is no BS/CEN standard for wooden goals and it is unlikely that wooden goals will pass a load or stability test. The FA recommends that wooden goals should be replaced when necessary with compliant metal, aluminium or plastic goalposts. All wooden goals previously tested by independent consultants have failed strength and stability tests.

For reference, you should note that The FAand BSI, in conjunction with the industry,have developed two standards for goalposts– BSEN 748 (2004) and BS 8462 (2005). It isstrongly recommended that you ensure that all goals purchased comply with the relevant standard. A Code of Practice BS 8461 has also been completed and copies of all of these three standards are available from the British Standards Institute.

Funding for replacement goals is available via the Football Foundation and eligibility criteria and further details can be obtained on their web site – www.footballfoundation.org.uk

Remember to use goalposts safely atall timesDownloads – these are available at thefollowing link XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX• Download the latest Goalpost Safety

Guidance Notes• Letter to County FA’s regarding Metal Cup

Hook ban• Letter to Leagues in step 1-6 regarding

Metal Cup Hook ban

Natural GrassThe majority of competitive football is played on natural turf pitches provided by a wide range of stakeholders from private ownership to schools and Local Authorities. The current quality of natural turf pitches varies throughout the country. Improvements to the stock of grass pitches are essential to ensure as many players as possible have the opportunity to playon a defined standard for playing surfaces. It is recognised that natural turf pitches have a limited carrying capacity – ie the number of playing hours possible per week.The guidance notes will seek to assist football delivery organisations in;

Identifying the current carrying capacity of their pitches via self-assessment and monitoring of pitches throughout the season with regards to number of games with the intention of improving outputs via maintenance plan improvements. This may be carried out in conjunction with the organisations football development plan. The guidance notes will also provide information on feasibility surveys for implementation of pitch improvement works. This may involve appointing specialist consultants to determine the best solutions for providing quality playing opportunities and identifying optimal project timelines to ensure minimal disruption to football activities. Information will also be provided on maintenance plans, identifying appropriate resources

to carry out cost-effective programmes. These guidance notes will be set against Performance Quality Standards for Natural Turf Pitches as determined by the FA and made available in detail on the FA’s website

Artificial Grass PitchesThe emergence of Artificial Grass Pitches(AGPs) and in particular the third generationsurface has impacted significantly on the way football is played and delivered throughout the country. AGPs offer a quality playing surface throughout the year, allowing for increased opportunities for training and match competition at all levels and ages. In a wider context and when delivered against a strategic setting such as a school site, they enhance curricular activity and provide quality playing opportunities for the wider community.

There are specific requirements for artificial grass pitches used in all FA competitions with the exception of the FA Challenge Cup and FA Youth Cup (rounds proper) Where sanctioned by the competition rules artificial grass pitches may be used in the in FA competitions provided the pitch is listed on the FA’s Register of Artificial Grass Pitches. The use of such pitches is However, dependent on compliance with FA conditions of use, a copy of this is available

Technical information

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in the FA Guideline to Artificial pitches.The FA has adopted FIFA Standards forPerformance. These standards allow forpitches to be constructed with regards toparticular requirements for football activities.Continuous testing against the performance standard in conjunction with an adequate maintenance regime aims to ensure consistency of play over time. They are also deliverable in different sizes to suit various levels of football where a specific need is identified, ie mini-soccer through to full size adult football.

Operational aspects of AGPs are importantin ensuring their sustainability and longevity.

Maintenance planning and business planning underpin the effective use of these types of facilities. The FA Regional facilities Team can assist in the development and appraisal of designated sites for AGP development and ensure that, in conjunction with your Local County FA a robust football development plan is shaped to offer the optimal outcomes in terms of financial sustainability and also performance output in line with The FAsNational Game Strategy for the strategicdevelopment of football.

Clubhouses and Coach Education facilitiesThe quality of existing changing facilitiesthroughout the country varies greatly. The FA has worked in recent years to introduce standards for the development of new changing facilities, addressing such issues as designing layouts to provide optimal use of space, addressing child protection issues and ensuring the inclusion of facilities for referees. It is vital that when constructing new clubhouse and changing facilities due consideration is given to factors such as quality of finishes relevant to usage within the building (eg acoustic requirements in a coach education environment). The guidance notes will provide information on performance standards for clubhouse facilities including floor finishes, wall finishes and ceiling finishes relevant tothe area of the building. This will allow forappropriate specifications to be developed and accurate costings to be derived throughout the developmental stages of your project. The quality of finishes will have an impact on the maintenance of your facility throughout its lifecycle and business planning considerations can therefore be taken into account.

The FA advocates the use of modular build systems where a more flexible arrangement may be required either in terms of available funding or site location considerations. It is recognised that many clubs and organisations do not have the resources tobuild new changing rooms. Large numbersof clubs and organisations rely on deliveringfootball activities in environments that require refurbishment or minor improvements.

In adopting a flexible approach to the improvements of such facilities The FA aims to support organisations wishing to undertake modest facility improvements by utilising club resources, accessing small grant funding and generating in-club funding. In line with the delivery of FA Courses from coaching to refereeing, The FA acknowledges the fact that clubs require a suitable venue for the development of programmes to enable them to deliver against the FA National Game Strategy. The provision of Coach Education Facilities in providing classroom space with relevant IT in order to deliver appropriate courses in a key factor in improvements to football development and can often form a vital component of a Football Development Plan. Provision of Coach Education Facilities may require working in partnership with other key stakeholders, eg schools and colleges.

Indoor FacilitiesThe FA recognises the need for the increased use of indoor facilities wherever possible to meet the needs of skill development, particularly amongst young players. The FA Skills Coach Programme is designed around the use of indoor facilities, primarily indoor sports halls and gymnasiums. Whilst the construction of a network of indoor facilities is prohibited largely due to factors of cost, there are existing facilities, particularly within school environments that may be currently under-utilised. Indoor facilities are also vital in the development of futsal and some forms of disability football. The FA will encourage and actively seek out existing venues that may be under-utilised or in need of improvements to make them compliant for use for indoor football activities. The FA continues to work with the Schools Building programme to ensure required specifications are met for indoor football where appropriate.

Small Sided FootballSmall sided football can be played under various conditions, both indoor and outdoor and on a variety of surfaces. The FA will continue to provide information on best practice and suitability of factors affecting facility design and layout with regards to indoor facilities and also the small-sided game. The FA works closely with commercial providers, consulting on projects at feasibility stage and ensuring that technical requirements for such facilities are compatible wherever possible with FA guidelines.

Ground Grading RequirementsImprovements to facilities in the National League System are an important part of the sustainability and development of clubs wishing to adhere to the standards and requirements of The FA’s Ground Grading Documents, available on The FA web site. The FA Regional Managers, in conjunction with Leagues within the National League System undertake a schedule of annual Ground Grading visits to ensure compliance with the Ground Grading documents and to identify any works necessary for a club to progress to the next level via promotion with regards to the quality of their facilities. As such is it vitally important that clubs who are successful on the pitch maintain the same level of detail and investment into their facilities. The FA advocates the implementation of a Facilities Development Plan for all clubs within the National League System. This will assist in identifying works required in order to achieve the next grade where applicable. Ground inspections often reveal poor standards of maintenance. Poor maintenance can lead to failure of hard-standing around the pitch, defective perimeter barriers. Uncontrolled rainwater from covered stand areas can create slippery surfaces if guttering is defective. Therefore a Facilities Development Plan can assist in ensuring potential defects are avoided and short-term investment can reduce maintenance costs in the longer term.

Appendix C contains an outline of the key facilities requirements at each level of the National League System and can be used as a guide. Full Ground Grading documents for clubs can be found at; XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXA template Facilities Development Plan can be found at; XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Football Facilities in Educational EstablishmentsThe development of Facilities in schools and educational establishments has enabled a unique opportunity for The Football Association to develop in partnership with Local Authorities a strategic approach to planning around some of the proposed sites for the development of firstclass football facilities built around strategic plans for Local County FAs. To assist Local Authorities engaged in the BSF Programme The FA has produced a set of guidance notes for the development of football facilities entitled “xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx” The documents outline best practice for accessing and utilising AGPs, optimal layouts for changing rooms designed specifically for school sites and highlights aspects of operational management issues around school sites.

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