FA reveals plan to expand disability football for kids

The Football Association has laid out new plans which aim to boost participation in disability football.

The strategy, named "Football Without Limits" includes expanding the Comets programme for 5-11 year olds.

The FA says Comets will be the most inclusive format of the sport and it provides "a safe space for children to kick start their football journey".

It says this will be a pan-disability project, which means it is open to players with a wide variety of disabilities and health conditions.

At the moment, there are around 150 clubs which offer Comets sessions across England but the FA hopes to increase this number by training more coaches and attracting more children to join their local sessions.

"Comets introduces a fresh, adaptable, and welcoming approach to the game, focusing on enjoyment, building friendships, and simply having fun," said an FA spokesperson.

One of the strategy’s key aims is to increase the number people playing disability football by a third by 2028.

To help achieve this, the FA aims to "provide further opportunities for disabled people to have access to local grassroots clubs tailored to their needs".

Catherine Gilby, Head of Para Performance at the FA said she hopes the new strategy will "create meaningful change in this important area of our game.

"With the next phase of the four-year Football Without Limits strategy, we can nurture and grow key elements which support the growth of disability football, while giving children, participants and elite players the opportunity to reach their full potential.

"We believe this approach will help to drive world-class performances that can inspire the next generation of aspiring Para footballers to represent England on the world stage," Gilby added.