The Kent FA have announced their new strategy, Play – Protect- Promote, which will run from 2021-24.
This three-year strategy aims to serve and develop football opportunities across Kent by providing a safe and engaging environment for everyone to enjoy the beautiful game.
The strategy is built around three key strategic pillars:
PLAY
- Increased playing opportunities across all formats of the game
- Support the development of youth and female participation
- Recruit and retain match officials
- Develop a network of highly skilled and diverse coaches
- Respected leagues offering inclusive competitions
- Stronger clubs with inclusive playing opportunities
PROTECT
- A compliant corporate governance structure that is fit for purpose
- Protect the loss of football pitches and deliver an effective pitch provision that meets the needs of Kent football
- Diversify income and maximise investment to reinvest back into the game
- A child-centred approach that puts safeguarding at the heart of what we do
- Deliver trusted and transparent regulation to all participants
PROMOTE
- A game for all, with increased opportunities for underrepresented groups
- Digital technology to provide a safe and efficient system for club and league administrators
- Promote respect and improve on-pitch and off-pitch behaviour
- Promote a positive environment for all, and actively engage with parents
The Kent FA are passionate about the grassroots game in Kent and believe that football should be accessible to everyone in every capacity, whether that be playing, coaching, refereeing, volunteering, or spectating.
Throughout the development of this strategy, Kent FA have consulted with key stakeholders throughout the Kent football community which have provided key insight into what the challenges are, and as a result, through this strategy there is a framework to improve these.
Key targets for strategy include the registration of 1,000 disabled players, the improvement of 356 grass pitches across the County, the retention of 1,600 match officials, the ambition to ensure 90% of youth clubs have a qualified coach and the growth of the male and female game.
Kent FA Chair, Denise Richmond said: “The Kent FA Strategy, Play – Protect – Promote, is a high-level document that sets the direction for the association over the next three years. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on grassroots football was significant.”
“As a result of the pandemic, we are seeing several new challenges, but we have also seen new ways of working which have benefited and will continue to benefit, grassroots football across Kent.”
Darryl Haden, CEO of The Kent FA adds: “This concise strategy for the next three-years focuses on supporting the restart of football, ensuring that we are continuing to develop, protect and promote the game across Kent as well as promoting opportunities to participate and volunteer within the game.”
“Throughout the development process, we have ensured that our strategy is aligned to FA strategies and key performance indicators in addition to addressing local issues.”
“We must achieve the challenging targets that have been set by The FA, in addition to meeting the needs of the local football community.”