Football for Young People Who are often excluded from the school Team
Structured, inclusive football tournaments designed for KS3 and KS4 learners to access teams, feel included and be able to enjoy the game.
For many young people, football is everything.
But not everyone finds their place in a traditional team. Some struggle with confidence, others find the environment overwhelming, or simply feel they do not belong.
Over time, they stop turning up or stop trying altogether, not because they do not care, but because the environment is not right for them. School teams are difficult to get into with the rise of academies and football education providers.
SIFA provides a more supportive and inclusive way to stay involved in the game.
We run structured football tournaments for Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 for those young people who need a different type of environment to engage and take part.
Tournaments run each half term in a round robin-style format, giving every young person the opportunity to play, contribute and feel part of the group.
The focus is not just on ability. It is on creating an environment where respect, structure and participation come first.
As confidence builds, young people begin to develop a huge sense of inclusion, belonging and purpose, which feeds into their everyday lives.
While football is the starting point, the outcomes go far beyond the game.
Young people begin to feel more comfortable around others, more confident in themselves and more willing to take part.
They build social skills, develop communication and experience what it feels like to belong.
For some, this is the first step back into structured activity. For others, it becomes a pathway into further support, education or sport.
SIFA is part of a wider approach within Get Game Ready CIC.
Some young people go on to re-engage with school better, improve their health, access alternative provision or move into other opportunities within football, such as Sporting Rugby FC and other teams with the Coventry and Warwickshire Pan Disability League.
We work closely with schools to identify those who would benefit, and we are always happy to discuss suitability and upcoming programmes.
Who is SIFA really designed for?
How is this different from a normal football team or club?
What actually happens during a session?
Is behaviour managed, or is it just “free play”?
How are young people referred or booked onto the programme?
What difference does SIFA actually make?
“This is the first time they’ve actually wanted to take part in football.”
Referring School
If a young person is struggling to access football in traditional settings, we can provide the right environment to help them take part again.