Based on internationally-researched best practice and tailored to a New Zealand context, the Whole of Football Plan has been designed to cover all areas of the game, from volunteers, coaches and referees, to social and elite players.
The plan will be rolled out over the next six years with the junior framework piloted this season and fully implemented in 2012. The youth and senior frameworks will be piloted in 2013 and 2015 respectively before being fully rolled out the following season.
Describing the plan as a world-class piece of work, the judging panel chaired by Sir Wilson Whineray said the “Whole of Football Plan is re-inventing the way football will be delivered to New Zealanders”.
“Commercial funders have supported the plan, which sets a great example for other sporting organisations,” said the panel.
NZF Director of Football John Herdman accepted the award “on behalf of a number of people that contributed to a little idea two years ago that has become an absolute mammoth,” and paid “massive thanks to our partners in this plan like SPARC, ASB and our local federations”.
“This plan is about making hay while the sun shines on our sport. The whole nation was captivated by what our All Whites achieved last year and we knew we had one opportunity to really have a go at this. Luckily, we had been brewing something in the background and we unleashed it this year in its pilot phase,” Herdman says.
“This in an innovation award and with any innovation it’s about whether it actually works, and I hope that in five years time all of you with kids or grandkids in the sport are seeing your kids having a great First Kicks, Fun Football or Mini Football experience and falling in love with the game.”
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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