Spotlight:

Grassroots

GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL


Grassroots Football lays the foundation of the sport, and its primary aim is to increase participation for children, youth, amateurs, veterans, those with physical disabilities, cerebral palsy, the visually impaired and even the socially disadvantaged.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) defines grassroots football as 'All football which is non-professional and non-elite'. It intends to bring all together by providing access to Football regardless of age, gender, physical condition, skin colour, religion or ethnic origin.

Blue Cubs is the AIFF's flagship grassroots programme that aims to establish a robust foundation for Indian Football. It is part of the Strategic Roadmap ‘Vision 2047’, and its target is to engage 35 million children between the ages of 4-12 by 2026 and take the number up to 100 million by 2047.

June 23, the birth anniversary of Pradip Kumar Banerjee, India's captain in the 1960 Rome Olympics and popularly known as PK, is celebrated as the  'AIFF Grassroots Day'.

GRASSROOTS MESSAGE

Kalyan ChaubeyPresidentAIFF

Grassroots is at the very heart of the plan we are executing here at the Federation, and the Blue Cubs project will play a central role in our long-term development. It is our hope that more children come through the system through the Blue Cubs programme, and the elite players eventually join the junior categories in domestic and international football.

AnilKumar PrabhakaranSecretary GeneralAIFF

At the core of grassroots football lies the vision of developing young minds, nurturing their skills, and instilling a lifelong love for the game. At this foundational level, the emphasis should be on the growth and development of children, rather than just chasing trophies. Coaches must understand that children are not merely participants; they are individuals to be developed and their journey extends beyond securing victories.It's about creating a pathway for future stars while building an ecosystem that supports both player development and fan engagement. Initiatives like the Blue Cubs Leagues provide children with the opportunity to play football from an early age, fostering a deep understanding of the game and its core values. The Blue Cubs Leaders Level One Course plays a crucial role in strengthening this foundation, equipping the next generation of coaches and mentors with the knowledge, skills, and passion necessary to guide and inspire young players.

Blue Cubs: Grassroots for Billions

Not only will the Blue Cubs programme introduce a well-organised system that caters to children between ages 4 to 12, but the AIFF will also launch the Blue Clubs League, which will put the youngsters in competition mode from a very early age.

Under the Blue Cubs programme, children aged 4-5 will play in 2v2 format, while those aged 6-7 will play 3v3 on a smaller pitch, without goalkeepers. As players progress, the pitch size will gradually increase, with 5v5 formats for ages 8-10 and 7v7 formats for ages 11-12. These leagues will also have rotational goalkeepers.

It is through the efforts of all parties involved that the Federation intends to grow the beautiful game as a whole. Right from volunteers, parents, and coaches, to schools, clubs, NGOs, and state associations, the Blue Cubs programme intends to create a wide grassroots network with holistic growth of youth development.

Through various collaborative efforts, the Elite Blue Cubs will also be identified and further nurtured as future prospects for the National Teams.

The Blue Cubs programme will also cover a wide array of elements to help in community building, encouraging children to take leadership roles, enhancing the level of school and village football, installing better pitches, digital accessibility, talent identification, arranging festivals, leagues and futsal tournaments, and also help the kids understand nutrition at a young age.

Latest News

Union Sports Minister inaugurates Blue Cubs Development Centre in Srinagar
Grassroots Union Sports Minister inaugurates Blue Cubs Develo...
15 Jul 2024
AIFF Grassroots Day celebrated across the country on June 23
Grassroots AIFF Grassroots Day celebrated across the country ...
25 Jun 2024
AIFF launches Blue Cubs Development Centre programme
Grassroots AIFF launches Blue Cubs Development Centre program...
28 May 2024