A: The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on disabled people and their ability to take part in sport and activity, including football. Football Your Way has been developed in response to this. It’s also based on research which shows disabled people have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. As a result, many are anxious and worried about getting back to normality, including returning to football. 

Football Your Way and its resources have been designed to inspire disabled people to take part in football-based activities at home, in preparation for their return to the pitch/court, whenever they are ready to do so.

A: Football Your Way represents our emphasis on personal choice.  The FA acknowledges there is no fixed route for how or when people should play or return to football. The route is unique to the individual, whether you play at home, in the park or at a club, or whether you choose to play mainstream, pan- disability or impairment-specific football.  It’s also completely your choice whether you play competitively in a league or recreationally with friends in the park. Parents/carers: Naturally, please always ensure there is appropriate support or supervision for the child or adult you’re supporting.

The title Football Your Way reflects our wish to support disabled people to return to their pre-Covid football activity – when the time is right.

On a wider level, The FA works hard to ensure there are flexible, inclusive and accessible playing opportunities for everyone, whatever their level of ability. We want to deliver a range of opportunities that sustain and grow opportunities for disabled people to participate and excel through football. We are committed to creating positive environments in which football happens For All.

A: The 3-Step Challenge is designed to encouraged disabled footballers to create their own activities to facilitate a smooth and safe return to football. Based around the number 3, players are asked to upload their challenges here. Then you might be selected as one of the players that feature to inspire others and raise awareness of the Football Your Way hub and its activity resources. The central idea is to use the number 3 in all the activities created. Parents/carers: If the film of your child or the adult you are supporting is selected to inspire others, we’ll be in touch to get your prior consent.

• Why the number 3? This is inspired by the three lions on the national teams’ crest. In the context of Football Your Way activities, the number 3 is to be built into all challenges, whether it’s three difficulty levels, three repetitions or three minutes of activity. We’ve also built it into the challenges we’ve already filmed, which you can see here.

• Why use the word ‘step'? Research has told us that many disabled people are fearful and anxious about returning to ‘normal life’ beyond lockdown. Many will take time before they feel ready to return to their pre-Covid football activity. The stages or ‘steps’ needed will differ and be very personal to each individual. It’s all about taking practical steps to return to football at the individual’s own pace.

By happy coincidence, S.T.E.P. also happens to be the name of a tool used by sports coaches and PE teachers to ensure activities are fully inclusive and accessible for everyone involved. S.T.E.P. stands for Space, Task, Equipment and People. You can read more about it here. The S.T.E.P. principle, as it’s known, can also be used to increase or decrease an activity’s level of difficulty. 

A: Simply…

Pick your action or activity: it could be anything, from walking to running, to ball skills or body conditioning. 

Challenge yourself using the number 3: It could be three locations, three activities or three minutes

Film your challenge: And then upload your video here. That way you might be selected as one of the players we feature to inspire other players with a disability similar to yours. It also means you’ll be entered in our free prize draw to win one of several great prizes. See the full list here, as well as the Terms and Conditions which apply. If you need some inspiration to create your own 3-Step Challenge, check out ones we’ve already filmed here. Parents/carers: If the film of your child or the adult you are supporting is selected to inspire others, we’ll be in touch to get your prior consent.

A: Of course. Have a look at our guidance around the S.T.E.P. principle to see ways to make them easier or harder. Give it a go and get creative.

If you’re stuck for ideas, have a look at the activities we’ve filmed here. They have been created by FA coaches alongside experts from across the disability sport sector. The activities themselves align to the England DNA as well as maximising accessibility and inclusion for participants who play one of the many disability football formats. 

A: Yes. The FA’s website is fully compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard. 

In addition, we have worked with partners such as the Activity Alliance to ensure we have embedded strong accessible communication principles across all our new resources. This includes BSL (British Sign Language) translations, subtitles and audio description across video content. It also includes use of accessible PDFs, audio, as well as easy-read and BSL versions for most of the written resources.  

A: That’s because some of our resources are owned by partners, and we do not have rights to create alternative formats of resources we do not own.

A: You can contact us with any additional format requests here. To do so, either email us on FootballYourWay@TheFA.com, or call the main FA number: 0800 169 1863.

A: Have a look at The FA’s guidance – ‘Tips to ensure your child online safety’ which you can access here

A: Football Your Way will hopefully support you to return to football as it's well known that sport and friendships really help mental health. If you feel you need help talk to your GP. You can get information from leading mental health charity MIND by emailing info@mind.org.uk  or you can ring 0300 123 3393 or text 86463. The MIND website has a section for getting help in a crisis.

Other help is available from the Samaritans on 116 123 or by texting SHOUT to 85258.

A: If you're worried about a child, it’s vital you report your concerns. There are five ways to do this:

• To your club or league Designated Safeguarding Officer (usually referred to as the club welfare officer in grassroots football);

• To your County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer. Here's a list of all County FA contact details;

• By emailing our Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@TheFA.com

• If urgent and you can't contact your club, league or County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer, you should call the NSPCC 24 hour helpline on 0808 800 5000;

• If it's an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the Police or Children’s Social Care in your area.

A: It’s important you report any concerns about a child. Reports can be made to the following agencies: 

   • CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) command: https://ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/ 

   • NSPCC: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

You can also contact The FA directly via safeguarding@TheFA.com  

In an emergency ring the Police.

A: Please talk to your parents or carers or another adult you trust. You can also get help from: 

• CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection) command: https://ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/

• Childline: https://www.childline.org.uk/ or ring 0800 1111. The Deaf Zone on Childline has signed video and there is 1-2-1 online chat.

• You can also contact The FA directly via safeguarding@TheFA.com  

If you’re aged 16 or 17 click here for The FA’s safeguarding guidance notes 7.1: ‘Know Your Rights in football’. 

A: Adults can be abused as well as children. If you have a club welfare officer for adults, talk to them. If not, you can contact your County FA Designated Safeguarding officer and explain you’d like to talk or contact your local adult services. Everyone has a right to be safe in football. A full list of all the County FA contact details are here.

A: The FA provides a range of guidance on safeguarding adults in disability football including ‘How to access the safeguarding adults online course’ and ‘Recognising and responding to adult safeguarding concerns’. To access the guidance, click here.

A: We will never upload a 3-Step Challenge film without first having obtained the consent of the parent/carer of the child concerned. If we really like the challenge that’s been created, but you don’t want your child or adult you support to be identified, we will replicate the challenge using someone else. 

A: We will never upload a 3-Step Challenge film without first having obtained your consent. If we really like the challenge that’s been created, but you don’t want to be identified, we will replicate the challenge using someone else.

A: From a kickabout in the park, to playing for England, there are now more opportunities than ever for disabled people to get involved in football. There are three main pathways open to disabled people

• Mainstream Football: For anyone who can play without adaptions to football’s rules. Disabled players and non-disabled players play together.

• Pan-disability Football: For players with a broad spectrum of impairments and health conditions to play together.

• Impairment-specific Football: For people with the same impairment to play together. There are a range of formats, each one designed to meet the needs of the players’ impairment. Some examples are Blind Football, Cerebral Palsy Football and Powerchair Football.

To find out more about any of the above, visit here on EnglandFootball.com. Alternatively, contact your local County FA. You’ll find their details here.

A: You can search for opportunities local to you by using our Find Football search here. Alternatively your local County FA will be able to offer advice and guidance about opportunities to play locally. You can find details of your local County FA here.

A: Yes – there are England impairment-specific squads for blind players, partially-sighted players, players with cerebral palsy, powerchair footballers and deaf players. These squads compete in European and world competitions. The FA also takes responsibility for the Great Britain Disability Football Association, which in turn supports the participation of the Great Britain blind team in the Paralympic Games.

You can find out more about the England disability teams here.

A: There are many routes to selection. You could be asked to attend an ‘England Talent Day’ from where you could be invited to attend The FA’s Regional or National Emerging Talent programme. Alternatively, individuals can self-declare their eligibility here or be recommended by somebody else by using the link here.   

The FA also has a network of talent scouts, constantly on the lookout for players with potential. Players are identified from a range of playing opportunities, be it impairment-specific or mainstream. To find out more visit here.

A: All our latest guidance is available here.