The FAI has launched an Education and Development Strategy for 2025-30, a strategic plan for football and education to enhance Irish football across all levels.

One of the 11 priority actions of the Football Pathways Plan, the strategy focuses on three primary missions:

Integrating education into all levels of Irish Football,  innovating coach development through individualised expertise, and establishing a clear pathway for referee development.

One of the key aims of the strategy, which emphasises a modern, holistic approach to learning and development, is to foster a lifelong engagement with football for everyone involved and by prioritising education at every stage, from grassroots to professional levels.

“We’re delighted to launch the FAI Education and Development strategy for 2025-30, which will see us bringing the vision of ‘where there is football, there is education, and where there is education, there is football’ to life,” said FAI Head of Education Niall O’Regan.

“This will see us immersing football and education in all levels of the game, providing positive, memorable learning experiences, igniting curiosity for learning, evolving our engagements, coach development and referee development.”

Increase interactions

“It will see the association increase interactions in formal education from primary to post-primary and third level.”

“Across coach development, we will see a more significant emphasis on individual development while providing a balance of formal and informal opportunities, enhancing the focus on club-based coach development.”

“The strategy will also allow us to have a greater emphasis on referee development, increasing the number of female referees, maximising the retention and further developing our existing roster.”

“This is an exciting development as the strategy gives us the ability to implement some massive changes in how we support and develop football in formal education, with our teacher training and innovative approaches to transition year and post-primary programmes.”

“By prioritising education and development across playing, coaching, and officiating, the aim is to build a more integrated, and ultimately more successful footballing nation,” added Marc Canham, the FAI’s Chief Football Officer.

“Education is essential to the development of football and we’ve seen a number of nations’ successful implementation of an education plan that led to success on and off the field.”

Clear roadmap

“This gives the association a clear roadmap to implement and create a sustainable and thriving football ecosystem for the future.”

In the education development section of the strategy, the national implementation of teacher training is a focus area which follows on from a successful pilot programme in Wexford in 2024.

The ‘FAI Primary Playbook’ was the association’s first EPV-approved summer course and received excellent feedback from participants.

“The course proved to be an invaluable experience for both educators and participants alike, fostering a deeper connection to the sport and its positive impact on local communities,” said Lorraine O’Sullivan, Director of Wexford Support Centre.

“We’re thrilled to announce that due to its success in Wexford, the course will now be rolled out in over 20 education centres across the country this year, allowing more Primary school teachers to benefit from expert-led coaching while fostering a stronger connection between local football clubs and schools across the country.””

In addition to this, one of the exciting new additions in the post-primary space is the introduction of the Gaisce – The President’s Award programme through football. This addition will see transition year students being able to complete a football education programme and on it’s completion, they will receive the Gaisce – The President’s Award. Avril Ryan, CEO, said: “Gaisce – The President’s Award is delighted to collaborate with the FAI as part of the organisation’s Education and Development Strategy.

“Our exciting new partnership with the FAI will provide young people with an opportunity to achieve a football award in collaboration with Gaisce throughout the Transition Year experience, commencing with a pilot programme with over 80 students in September 2025 and roll-out nationally in September 2026.

“Gaisce is committed to ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to do a Gaisce Award, and this valuable collaboration will allow us to increase access to the Gaisce Award for countless more young people in schools throughout the country and will have a hugely positive impact on their development.”

 

 

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

Download the Education and Strategy Document here.

SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Integrating sport into children’s lives at the earliest opportunity is a winner for kids, for sport and for society.  It does not happen by accident and putting structures in place to do so is a positive development.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

The Gaisce Pilot programme will kick off in September 2025.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS

The FAI, League of Ireland and SSE Airtricity are among the 300+ members of the Sport for Business Community. Our community includes all of the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies.  Our football coverage is in partnership with Sky Ireland.

Find out more about becoming a member today.

Get the full benefit of a Sport for Business membership by joining us at one of our upcoming events where sporting and business leadership comes together.

Or sign up for our twice-daily bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover. 

Sign up for our News Bulletins here