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There is no doubt that National Football Associations have to play a significant role in developing football in their respective countries which falls under their jurisdiction. National FA has a principal task in framing a strategic implementation plan for football development. Therefore National FAs have to take the lead in creating a strategic plan for development and has to be an engine in developing the game to a new level with the developmental work. But it will always be difficult for the National FA alone to strategize the plan for development and implement it. Development work in football is a massive task and football development covers wide aspects which require multiple partners and investment of substantial resources. Considering the magnitude of development work it is not easy for National FA alone to conceive, invest and administer development programme without the active support and cooperation from multiple agencies.
It is important to understand what football development plan targets to achieve considering the long term objectives and goals of National FA? The development work aspires to bring a qualitative change in the entire aspects of football and does not only focus on national teams alone or youth development. A good development model shall concentrate on all facets of football and that includes: system to build highly competitive national team and creating a pool of quality players (large base); establishing, building and creating sufficient football infrastructure for training and matches at all levels; formulating and administering inclusive grassroots programme (concentrating on mass); establishing strong youth development programme including strong youth teams and sufficient number of youth playing population; adequate professional and amateur clubs with strong community links and fan base with sufficient football infrastructure (professional clubs) for training and matches; establishing highly competitive and attractive league for clubs, and excellent competition structure for all categories (professionals, amateurs, age group, women, girls, etc.,) under an integrated calendar; nurturing sufficient number of qualified coaches and referees for each level (through a well established coach and referee education system and programme); attracting and cultivating strong fan base; substantial market penetration through dedicated professionals and planned campaign; attracting large investment and sponsorship (building long term partnership); bonding and attracting exclusive pool of private partners for varied activities of football and attracting continuous investment in football; empowering, developing and training large pool of football administrators for each level (national, province, district, clubs, etc); attracting large number of volunteers on continuous basis; create attractive and entertaining football properties (like national league, cups, national team, etc.,), which should ultimately become a strong brand in the market and attract mass media and public; nurturing and developing football medics and support staff for each level of the game; building an excellent media relation and having long term broadcasting partner, and building an understanding of mutual trust and cooperation with media; institute a professional football structure for administration and management at each level of the game; set-up an excellent relation and understanding with International Governing Bodies, foreign agencies and other established football organisations; built a system of continuous development and adopting a principle of living change for the best of the game, etc. etc.
The above description only indicates that task of development is colossal and it is too much for developing national associations to deal and to create substantial resources for the development of football. Therefore National FAs should look for partnership with government agencies, corporate houses (sponsorship) and private investors for funding various activities for development including creating required infrastructure at each level.
It is vital to understand that football development is a continuous process which does not end as and when National FA attains their long term goals but fact of the matter is that development work never stops and should not stop at all. The game is continuously evolving and setting new standards at regular intervals. Hence development should never cease.
Developing football to a new level and sustaining that level does not come in a day or in a year but it is the result of sustain focused work of countless individuals and organisations for many years with the investment of massive resources. It should also be noted that it is not possible to predict the exact number of years (time duration) for developing the football standard to the highest level because football development depends upon multiple factors and it is difficult to objectively quantify in terms of time duration for each aspect of football.
Japan is a good example how football development should be planned and implemented, and they are working with excellent vision and targets. They have achieved so many targets since they started their development projects in 1980s and still continuing their development with same focus and vigour. Their ultimate target is to win the FIFA World Cup in the year 2050 by hosting the World Cup in that year.
Football development not only puts football standard to a new height but also develops many other aspects. If football development reaches certain target heights and goals then it brings so many positive developments around which helps society and country enormously. Due to a developed football scenario it is bound to create large employment opportunity within football and other areas, like sports science and technology, hospitality sector, tourism, and also attracts entrepreneurship in football business, which again attracts large employment, etc.
In football development it is always better to address every aspect of it and plan the development programme simultaneously for each aspect of football. But most of the time it happens that mostly top of the pyramid is concentrated for development and that does not bring the desire result. The total pyramid from the base to top (grassroots to professional football) is important and each segment of the pyramid should receive equal attention and focus for development, otherwise development will never peak and culminate into highest level.
If one has the opportunity to research or study each of the developed football nations then it will be clear that how each of them developed to their current level and very much the review will indicate that the development programme addressed each and every aspect of football, and concentrated on the whole of Pyramid. But it is also believed that development work should start either from top to bottom or from bottom to top of the Pyramid. The best model is to address simultaneously every sector of the Pyramid if possible for the best result.
It is always good to study the development projects of other countries to learn the best practices and inviting foreign experts for review, opinions and suggestions. But development project should always be tailor made to suit the local situation and final project for development should always be conceived by the locals in consultation with experts.
The responsibility of FA in football development is paramount and for development the FA should involve as many partners as possible. All the stakeholders should be involved in the development work, and not to forget that each of the stakeholders are also obliged to be active partners in the development and should contribute as much as possible to maximize the output. Thus National FA should pilot the project for development and engage multiple partners to generate maximum resources for realizing the ultimate dream of football development.
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