A national strategy for the development of disability football in Wales.

Abstract

This work will outline a potential National Strategy for the Development of Disability Football in Wales. In the authors role as South Wales Coordinator for Disability Football he has been charged with the development of a strategy by the FAW Trust. That brings a clear plan to develop the game, which overcomes the reactive approach and inconsistent nature of the current programme. This strategy is formulated after a consideration of a number of key issues; UK and Welsh sports policy (DCMS 2000, DCMS and Strategy Unit 2002 and WAG 2005), the need to work in partnership (Robson 2001), issues of social inclusion and 'Sport for All' (Hylton and Totten 2001) and a review of key texts relating to the provision of disability sport (Collins 2003, Thomas 2003 and De Pauw and Gawon 2005). After this analysis the strategy is presented followed by the final section, which focuses on an analysis of the decisions made during formulation of the strategy. With particular focus on models of sports development (Hylton et al 200l and Cooke 1997), clarity in strategic direction (Smith and Stewart 1999) and a key discussion on appropriate playing structures utilising De Pauw and Gavron's (2005) Participation continuum as a solution by offering choice to participants (Axelson 1984). Conclusions drawn from this work emphasise the importance of National Governing Bodies finding innovative and unique methods of fulfilling the requirements of UK sports policy. To ensure they are successful in both modernisation (DCMS 2000) and overcoming the funding tensions that permeate contemporary sports development (Green and Houlihan 2005). This work also draws the conclusion that if strategies are to be successfully implemented they require not only strong prior planning but also the flexibility to be adjusted over time, based on the changing nature of the environment that organisations operate within (Mintzberg et al 1998).