Goal Plus

Context

PluSport is the umbrella organisation for disability sport in Switzerland. The UEFA Foundation for Children has been supporting the Goal Plus project, linked to PluSport’s football section, since 2016. The project aims to use football and the passion it creates to enable all disabled children and teenagers, including those who use wheelchairs, to play football. For these young people, playing football creates new opportunities for social connections, leisure activities, friendships, educational and professional integration, and acceptance in society.

In 2017, the foundation helped to fund the expansion of the Play Football project, which aims to increase the number of disabled children’s teams, as well as the From Football to Rafroball project. Rafroball is a sport for both wheelchair-users and able-bodied players.

In 2018, PluSport set itself the goal of developing and broadening disabled football in order to foster integration and bring through the next generation of young players. This work is constantly evolving. In addition to organised tournaments, new opportunities have been created for disabled children and teenagers to participate in football activities.

PluSport operates in accordance with Swiss Olympic’s Charter of Sports Ethics and recognises the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Project content

For the third consecutive year, the foundation’s support will help to strengthen PluSport’s football-related activities, focusing on two new areas in particular.

1. Football for the blind and visually impaired: PluSport has decided to support and promote football for the blind and visually impaired, a sport that has been very popular at the Summer Paralympic Games for many years. Unfortunately, Switzerland does not enter a team. Our objective is, therefore, to see a Swiss team participate in the Paralympic Games. This programme will enable many blind and visually impaired youngsters to play football in spite of their visual impairments
2. Girls’ football: until now, disabled football has mainly involved boys. However, thanks to its success and popularity, this sport is attracting greater interest among girls. PluSport is monitoring this trend, and we would like to help promote girls’ football. To achieve this, we need to work more and more with female experts, instructors and supervisors.

Target groups:

• disabled and able-bodied children and teenagers throughout the country;
• girls, in the context of women’s football; and
• blind and visually impaired children and teenagers, in the context of football for the blind and visually impaired.

Objectives

• The objectives laid down could be achieved during the course of this year.
  • Continue to facilitate access to ball games for disabled children and teenagers.
  • Create new ball sports teams for children and teenagers.
  • Promote and develop disability sport.
  • Establish new partnerships as part of the project.
  • In collaboration with all football-related associations, ensure that football clubs are open to disabled football and promote inclusion.
  • See a Swiss football team for the blind and visually impaired participate in the Paralympic Games.

Project activities

• Integration of children and teenagers, individually or in groups, into PluSport clubs.
• Creation and support of new PluSport football clubs throughout Switzerland.
• Regular (weekly) training sessions, with supervision and coaching by PluSport.
• Organised tournaments (five or six per year). The aim is to add two or three tournaments per year in different parts of Switzerland.
• Football-themed afternoon gatherings for disabled and able-bodied children (schools, vocational schools, institutions).
• Training sessions for girls are organised in the various regions.
• Experts are trained and charged with promoting football for the blind and visually impaired throughout Switzerland and coaching the players.
• Organisation of football camps for children and teenagers.
• Sourcing of equipment for training sessions and tournaments.

Expected results

• More PluSport football teams, especially girls’ teams and teams of blind and visually impaired children.
• Disabled football is promoted through organised gatherings and tournaments for disabled and able-bodied children.
• Addition of two or three new tournaments.
• More girls participating in disabled football.
• New football camps organised for disabled children and teenagers.
• Expert coaches trained to organise football training sessions for the blind and visually impaired.
• Creation of a Swiss football team for the blind and visually impaired.