We are passionate about using football as a force for good across all levels of the game, and our ambition is to inspire the next generation of young people to live healthier lives. We know this will take time and collective resource, and - together with our partners - we are committed to that goal. The Greater Game is our purpose-led programme, with youth voice at its heart. It aims to address the breadth of this complex challenge, creating a movement which encourages healthy living for all young people and their families.

A fundamental part of The Greater Game programme is the grassroots initiative. This has been co-created with our Founding Partner, Nuffield Health.  

The grassroots programme aims to harness the influential power of football, serving as a dynamic catalyst to generate positive transformations in both the on-field performance and off field lifestyle choices of 12–16-year-olds. Our curated resources and content focus on key elements: eat, sleep, move, and think all of which have been tailored for parents, coaches, and players alike.

The initiative has been underpinned by robust external research by academics from the Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research at the University of Bedfordshire and researchers from the Centre for Behaviour Change at University College London.  By engaging directly with 12-16-year-olds their behavioural concerns were identified, and a range of solutions have been created, all of which feature in our Resource Hub. 

The pilot went live in April 2023. It was delivered to selected clubs in six County Football Association (CFA) areas: Berks & Bucks CFA, Cheshire CFA, Manchester CFA, Leicestershire & Rutland CFA, Middlesex CFA and Somerset CFA. The pilot reached over 100 coaches, 2,000 young people and their parents and guardians. 

Delivered in the form of educational workshops - coaches and parents were given practical tips and techniques that could be put into practice on the pitch and at home. They were encouraged to empower their young people to take ownership, coming up with challenges and activities that inspire healthy behaviours which improved on pitch performance and off pitch lifestyle choices.

The Greater Game will use the collective power and impact of football to help make a real change to the health and happiness of young people. We don’t have all the answers, but we know we cannot deliver this programme alone. It will only be realised through the invaluable help and expertise of existing and new partners, including Nuffield Health and M&S Food who have been part of The FA’s Greater Game squad since 2022. 

We recognise there’s more we can do; the journey has just begun. It’s about making incremental steps towards our mission “to inspire at least one healthier action per week.” We’re determined to make change and will continue to look at different ways we can make a credible impact on people’s lives. We will look to add partners and further initiatives to The Greater Game programme, as it expands in the coming years.