State of pitches big concern for grassroots football, FA survey finds

The standard of pitches is one of the biggest impediments to football's growth at grassroots level, a Football Association survey has revealed.

The study of more than 28,750 of the game's participants also showed notable concern about the standard of coaching at recreational level.

The figures from the grassroots survey - an online poll which sought views from players, coaches, referees, staff and volunteers - showed that players with access to better-quality pitches tend to play a third more than the average. 

Those playing on poorly-maintained pitches play 21 per cent less.

This issue was already on the FA's agenda under its 'National Game Strategy for Participation and Development' and a "significant slice" of its £260m budget for the next four years has been allocated to the matter.

At present, there is a high dependence on local councils to maintain facilities, with 83 per cent of pitches in England being publicly owned, and the FA recognises a need for greater involvement.

Part of this will come under the 'Parklife' scheme which will see the creation of 'hubs' of floodlit 3G artificial pitches in cities across the country. Plans are also in place to improve around 2,000 existing turf pitches and it is hoped the investment will encourage further funding from other sources.

Pete Ackerley, the FA's head of participation, said: "We are seeing a lot of players will play more if we get the environments right. We're finding that the better the pitch, people will play more, and absolutely more people will play."

In terms of coaching, respondents aged 10-15 expressed high levels of satisfaction but this declined as the age range increased. Poor coaching was identified as having a negative effect on the appetite of players to play regularly.

This area is also one of the FA's priorities with a network of county coaches charged with improving and supporting coaching across grassroots football, while club mentoring programmes are being strengthened.

Ackerley added: "I don't think anyone is expecting Pep Guardiola or Louis van Gaal on the touchline when play in their local Sunday league but they are expecting some sort of structure - for example playing in a shape, knowing how to defend a corner, what to do from a free-kick.

"It is just about getting organised and being organised and getting some structure as opposed to throwing a ball onto a pitch and smashing it at a goalkeeper for 20 minutes during sessions."