THE
Bigpitch
…where the game is played
The Scottish FA’s first facilities strategy
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
“The Scottish FA will proactively support our
key partners at national and local level, working
collaboratively with them to develop quality,
grassroots football facilities across Scotland.”
Summer 2013
From the President
I am delighted to introduce ‘The Big Pitch’, the Scottish FA’s first facilities
strategy. It is both exciting and a tangible sign of progress that this
document is now published after the need for a focus on this area was
highlighted by previous pieces of work, most recently former First Minister
Henry McLeish’s ‘Review of Scottish Football’.
Quality facilities are fundamental to the success of grassroots football.
They are, after all, the breeding ground for all levels of the game. The
development of these facilities can’t be achieved by the Scottish FA alone.
However, this will be achieved through establishing and fostering positive,
long-term relationships and a commitment to working with key partners to
achieve our collective goals.
‘The Big Pitch’ highlights many of the current facility-related issues in our game and on a more
practical level, outlines what the game requires in terms of facility type, size and features. The
publication of this document is just the first step in a longer process – perhaps best regarded as the
critical opening period of an important game!
This strategy outlines the steps to be taken by the Scottish FA in more formally supporting the
delivery of quality, grassroots football facilities across the country. The strategy outlines the ways in
which we will complement the work undertaken by our partners at the Scottish Government, local
authorities, sportscotland, the Scottish Football Partnership, the affiliated national associations,
South of Scotland, East of Scotland and Scottish Highland Football Leagues and of course the
invaluable work undertaken by the army of volunteers based across the network of communitybased football clubs and sports hubs across the country, all of whom depend on quality facilities to
develop our game. The Scottish FA recognises the key role it has to play in this area and ‘The Big
Pitch’ outlines the work that will be involved.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank sportscotland for the invaluable support and
guidance offered to the Scottish FA in the development of ‘The Big Pitch’. Its publication is in
itself testament to the relationship we have with Scotland’s national agency for sport.
It is also no coincidence that the Scottish FA values identified in our strategic plan Scotland United:
A 2020 Vision - trust, positivity, respect, unity, professionalism, passion and ambition - will all play a
major part in the strategy goals being achieved.
I hope you will find ‘The Big Pitch’ both an interesting and valuable document and would like to
thank you for your support in taking Scottish football not only forward but towards an exciting
future.
Campbell Ogilvie
Scottish FA President
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
“Last year we had lots of games
called off. This year the new
footballing centre means we don’t
have games to catch up.
“
Callum
Summer 2013
CONTENTS
SECTION 1: Focusing on the pitch
Page 6
Section 2: The Wider Pitch
Page 13
Section 3: Our Partners
Page 17
Section 4: New Facilities
Page 19
Section 5: Current Facilities
Page 27
Section 6: Hitting The Target
Page 30
Page // 5
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
1
Focusing on the pitch - an
introduction to the Scottish FA’s first
facilities strategy
As the Scottish FA’s first facility-focused strategy, ‘The Big Pitch’ identifies many of the most common
facility-related issues across the country and what is needed in the shape of new and improved
facilities to support the game at grassroots level and ensure it has a healthy future. This strategy is just
the first step toward doing that. After previous consultative documents it was extremely important
that a starting point was established where the Scottish FA outlined what it sees as the key facilityrelated issues and how these can be addressed. ‘The Big Pitch’ provides stakeholders with that
starting point by firstly considering the 3 questions fundamental to any strategy
Where are we today?
Where do we want to be?
How do we get there?
Where are we today?
Football is the most widely played sport in Scotland. This is thanks to the massive contribution and
commitment from the hundreds of thousands of players, coaches, officials and volunteers that support
our game from grassroots through to the professional ranks.
From a facilities perspective, there is an extensive network of accessible and affordable pitches
provided by clubs, schools, local authorities and other facility providers throughout our country
without which the game simply could not be played to the extent it is. However, as the number
of registered players has risen, so has the need for and expectations of quality facilities. Whilst the
development of ‘third generation’ (or 3G) synthetic surfaces continues to improve, the quality of many
natural grass pitches, previous ‘second generation’ (2G) sand-filled synthetic surfaces and associated
changing facilities have deteriorated. If we continue to rely on the current quantity and quality
of pitches, the gap between need, expectation and reality will widen and there is a danger that
participation in 11-a-side football, the classic form of the game throughout the world, will decline.
Scottish football needs a strong, cohesive partnership approach to addressing the current challenges
related to providing quality football facilities.
Page // 6
Summer 2013
The current economic challenge
With public sector spending cuts set to continue well beyond the point that this strategy is
launched, it is important to state from the outset that the Scottish FA fully appreciates the
challenging financial climate that all facility developers are currently operating within. The Scottish
FA also understands that national and local government partners have a hugely difficult task
deciding where sports facility provision sits amongst a myriad of other spending priorities such as
health, education and social care.
In this context, it is clearly difficult for councils to invest in grass pitches when the spend required to
construct and maintain a pitch and changing accommodation hugely outweighs resultant income.
The solution therefore lies in a mix of quality natural grass and synthetic, floodlit pitches. However,
it is the latter synthetic surfaces, with 3G as the minimum standard, that will only truly address
the current issues of demand, capacity and, perhaps most significantly, the impact of the Scottish
climate.
New STPs, together with identified existing grass pitches and previous generation synthetics which
can be upgraded at less cost compared to when starting from a green or brown-field site, will
support our game better than ever before.
The current practical issues
The following issues were amongst the key factors and/or problems identified in the draft National
Facilities Strategy by strategic management consultants Genesis back in November 2006. These,
and indeed others, are still pertinent today and are having a significant impact on our game.
• Quality and availability of changing facilities.
• Quality and maintenance of natural grass pitches.
• Lack of floodlit training areas.
• Location and distribution of pitches.
• Lack of dedicated indoor provision including facilities for Womens’ football
• Lack of capital investment.
• Lack of sufficient 3G provision.
• Closures of facilities during holiday periods – especially across the school estate.
• Lack of a national strategy and standards from the Scottish FA and sportscotland.
• The implications of PPP school contracts – primarily access and price.
• Too many single pitch sites.
• The impact of a ‘change of season’.
• Lack of partnership working between football and facility providers.
Page // 7
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Many grass football pitches are ‘not fit for purpose’ (as outlined in sportscotland’s National Audit
of Sports Facilities back in 2006) - the main problems being poor drainage, uneven and/or muddy
goalmouths, general unevenness of surface and poor or inadequate maintenance due to the everincreasing budgetary pressures faced by local authorities.
A significant percentage of existing changing pavilions are in poor condition, with many of them
also too small for today’s larger playing squads and the increase in participation. They are also very
often isolated and so, unfortunately, vandalised.
Climate change is also a crucial factor with Scotland experiencing warmer but wetter winters and
more ‘extreme weather events’. Unfortunately this means grass pitches are unplayable more often
and for longer. Teams will always want to play on the best pitches and so these become overplayed
then unplayable and ultimately this leads to significant fixture backlogs at the end of the season.
The lack of floodlit pitches also means that teams have to play most of their matches at the
weekend in daylight. This creates huge demand on Saturdays and Sundays with pitches lying underutilised for the remainder of the week. In a training context, many teams struggle to find floodlit
training facilities needed for the majority of their season, the vast majority of which is played out
during the period of the year with the least daylight hours.
Ultimately, pitches that aren’t fit for purpose provide a poor introduction to the game for young
players and can lead to older players turning their back on the game for good.
In simple terms, Scottish football needs a new partnership approach to pitch
provision.
Recent progress
Full-size indoor regional football facilities have now been built at
Toryglen in Glasgow, Ravenscraig in Motherwell and the new
sports village in Aberdeen. Not the intended six centres as
identified in the Scottish Executive’s National & Regional Sports
Facilities Strategy of 2003, but progress none-the-less given
the econominc climate.
A number of local authorities have also been proactive in
developing new changing facilities and modern STPs specific
to football’s needs as part of their own playing fields, football
pitch or wider sports facility strategies. The Scottish FA
acknowledges this fantastic commitment to the provision of
quality facilities, many of which directly benefit football.
Scotland Unite
d
A 2020 Vision
Page // 8
The more recent school building programmes have also impacted
positively on football by providing many new STPs across Scotland.
However, at the same time a lack of co-ordinated local planning, the
restrictions of Public Private Partnership (PPP) school contracts which
see school facilities closed at the end of the school day and high hire
costs have left a number of these new facilities unused in the evening and
weekends when they are most required. Fully opening up this under-utilised
estate is another key element in improving access and thus provision.
Summer 2013
Where do we want to be?
As stated previously, the answer lies in a sensible mix of natural grass and synthetic
turf pitches (STPs) with the latter being a minimum of ‘third generation’ (3G)
standard.
Grass pitches that are currently in decent condition and so which
can be brought up to and maintained at a good standard
relatively cost effectively.
A network of new high quality, high capacity, floodlit 3G
STPs that can be used every day with no detrimental
impact on the surface, provided there is a suitable and
effective pitch maintenance regime in place.
Scottish football requires high capacity, floodlit
facilities which can combat the challenging Scottish
climate and satisfy the high demand for facilities
for both training and match activity. It is a fact that
60-70% of the current season is played when our
weather and the level of daylight are least favourable.
Whether the developmental football season is to
change or not, new facilities need to take account of
such natural factors which are simply unavoidable.
The inextricably linked issues of capacity and demand,
prevalent across the country, mean that more synthetic
pitches are a high priority simply because they can support
continuous play for up to 12 hours every day, 7 days a week.
Natural grass pitches, irrespective of quality or whether floodlit or
not, simply cannot support this level of training and match activity,
with 6-8 hours of use per week recognised as the maximum playing time
before a good quality natural grass surface begins to deteriorate.
The development of a wider network of synthetic pitches can be the catalyst that will help the
Scottish FA and its partners transform the non-professional game in this country. It will also help
deliver the aims relating to “Strong, Quality Growth” as set out in ‘Scotland United’ - significant,
sustainable growth in participation, a more attractive modern game for all and more talented
young players. It will also underpin the pyramid system at the heart of the Scottish FA’s plans for
the future of the non-professional game.
Some will argue that such a network of synthetic turf pitches will be unaffordable. However,
well managed STPs have the potential to generate sufficient income to meet operating costs,
fund any capital borrowing needed to build them and equally importantly, contribute to a surface
replacement fund. Although the cost of synthetic pitches needs to be considered carefully (this issue
will feature later in this strategy), the quality of these facilities does make them more attractive.
Subsequently players will pay a fair price to use them, making both building and maintaining them
more economically viable for pitch owners and/or operators.
Page // 9
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
“The answer lies
in a sensible mix
of natural grass
and synthetic turf
pitches”
Taking the aforementioned into account, the Scottish FA’s vision is that…
“By 2020, the key end date of Scotland United, half
of all recreational football will be played by teams
from well-run community clubs. These clubs will
cater for players of all ages and both sexes on quality
natural grass or high capacity synthetic turf pitches,
complemented by appropriate changing facilities.”
Here’s a thought….
Use of the existing circa 3000 grass and mineral pitches in Scotland varies considerably. However,
if half of all recreational football is played on synthetic surfaces by 2020, this implies that about half
of this estate of pitches will no longer be needed for matches and training. On the basis that one
synthetic pitch can support the activity on three grass pitches in terms of weekend playing capacity,
then Scotland’s 3G pitch network should consist of around 500. This may seem a high number,
but the first 170+ of these are already in place. To provide some form of comparator, Norway, a
country with a similar population (4.9 million) to that of Scotland (5.2 million), had approximately
840 3G pitches by the end of 2012. This equates to 1 for every 5,833 heads of population. The
comparative figure in a Scottish context is currently 1 to 34,666. Clearly the taxation system in
Norway will have a significant impact on these figures. However, in crude facilities by population
terms, it is a useful indication.
Page // 10
Summer 2013
How do we get there?
As every new synthetic turf pitch will increase the overall playing capacity in an area, the demand
on natural grass pitches will decrease. As a result, this will offer councils the option of disposing
of their poorest quality grass pitches which at the very least cost up to three times as much to
maintain as a STP, or in the very worst cases are almost beyond cost-effective maintenance.
Subsequently councils will have the opportunity to make savings on their grounds maintenance
budget and so be able to re-invest these savings in new synthetic pitches or the upgrading of their
better grass pitches as outlined in ‘Where do we want to be?’ Indeed the Scottish Planning Policy
(p32, paragraph 156) explicitly states this:
“Playing fields and sports pitches should not be redeveloped except where …the playing field
which would be lost would be replaced by a new playing field of comparable or greater benefit for
sport and in a location which is convenient for its users, or by the upgrading of an existing playing
field to provide a better quality facility either within the same site or at another location which is
convenient for its users and which maintains or improves the overall playing capacity in the area.”
“Scottish football
needs a new
partnership
approach
to pitch
provision.”
Page // 11
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
In summary
‘The Big Pitch’ is a strategy that will evolve over time. It needs to be versatile enough to
respond and adapt to changes in the wider environment such as changes in political power, the
resultant changes in key policies and priorities and the number and depth of the all-important
funding streams, all of which will influence the strategy over the longer term.
Local authority football facility/pitch strategies will also have a fundamental impact on
‘The Big Pitch’ and so the Scottish FA must position itself well enough to influence these and
consider the consequences these documents may have for football in the related areas of the
country.
The number of issues deemed most important by the various stakeholders in our game means it
has been a challenge to address all of these in one strategy and at one time. A fact we have in
common with probably all other sports is that different groups see different things as priorities.
This is likely to result in questions being asked of the strategy goals. The Scottish FA will not shy
away from these questions. Indeed, it views constructive criticism positively, considering that
which can improve practice in future. ‘The Big Pitch’ reflects that ‘open to question’ approach.
Should this initial document promote robust and honest debate, then this in itself would be one
extremely positive outcome of this initial facility strategy. Facilities are so fundamental to every
sport, not just football, that they need to be debated.
“The Big Pitch’ is a
strategy that will
evolve over time
... it needs to
be versatile
enough to
respond and
adapt to
changes”
Page // 12
2
Summer 2013
The wider pitch - the
background to the strategy
and key influences
on it.
To better understand the context ‘The Big Pitch’ sits within and how it came
to be developed, it’s important to acknowledge a number of important previous
documents. Each of these highlighted facility-related challenges and the need for a
strategy to address them.
One National Plan - 2012
The Scottish FA’s strategic plan for non-professional football outlines “clear aims for
the future…and builds on the good in our game at present”. One National Plan,
published just before this document, also identifies facilities as a key challenge at the
non-professional level of the game. This is best highlighted by the following excerpt
from the plan itself.
“More Attractive Modern Game”
“…the Scottish FA will publish and promote our first Facilities Strategy. The core
aim of the strategy is to improve the quality, quantity, access to and availability of
facilities for all non-professional football. It will be used as a point of reference
to engage more closely with Scottish Government, local authorities and private
providers and will drive forward the need to work more collaboratively with all
partners to develop new and improve existing facilities across Scotland.”
‘The Big Pitch’ is closely aligned to One National Plan and will address the facility
related issues within it. The following diagram helps better illustrate where the two
strategies sit in the context of the Scottish FA’s wider governance structure.
Scottish FA
Corporate Plan
Scottish FA
Main Board
Scotland United
A 2020 Vision
AL PLAN
ONE NATiON Scotland
tball in
fessional foo
3 – 2015
for non-pro
201
Professional
Game Board
ONE
NATIONPALALN
EAST OF
SCOTLAND
FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Facilities
Forum
Non-Professional
Game Board
East of Scotland
South of Scotland
Scottish Amateur FA
Scotish Junior FA
Scottish Youth FA
Scottish Schools FA
Scottish Women’s Football
Scottish Welfare FA
One plan for the
non-professional game
Impact on
local plans
Regional
Committees
Page // 13
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Scotland United - 2011
As mentioned previously, the Scottish FA’s strategic vision for 2020 is the key driver of all aspects of
the Scottish FA’s work. ‘The Big Pitch’ has been developed to consider and address a wide number
of issues which fall under one or more of the four strategic pillars of Scotland United. These are best
illustrated in the diagram below.
The Scottish FA’s Strategic Framework
OUR MISSION
STRATEGIC GOALS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
leads the national
game with integrity
and innovation to
breed a culture of
nited
otland U
Sc
ion
A 2020 Vis
performance, unity
and trust.
Perform and Win
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Strong, Quality Growth
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Better Financial Returns
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Respected and Trusted to Lead
Scottish FA Scoreboard
The Scottish FA
With its core focus on facilities for grassroots football, ‘The Big Pitch’ hits, in the most part, issues
that sit within Strong, Quality Growth. However, work will also extend into Perform and Win
(performance/elite facility issues) and Respected and Trusted to Lead (through provision of facilityrelated advice, guidance and information for stakeholders).
The Scottish Football Review - 2010 (Part One)
In 2010, former First Minister, Henry McLeish carried out a wide-reaching review of
youth and grassroots football in Scotland. Of the 53 recommendations contained
within the review, 24 had a facility related dependency. The core message
regarding facilities is probably best captured in these 2 excerpts from it…
“There has to be a new and urgent focus on the facilities gap…this
is undoubtedly the responsibility of Central and Local Government.
However, football does have an important role to play. Our future as
a football or sporting nation depends on the quality of facilities and
infrastructure.
Review of
Scottish Fo
otball
THE GRASSR
OO
AND YOUTHTS, RECREATION
DEVELOPM
ENT
Facing the
future
“All youth development and recreational football will have access to an
appropriate mix of high quality grass and synthetic grass pitches, floodlit where possible,
and that all our community clubs have fit-for-purpose clubhouse facilities which will assist
them in developing and growing the game in Scotland.”
Page // 14
Henry McLeis
h
March 2010
Summer 2013
“Of the 53 recommendations
contained within the review,
24 had a facility related
dependency.”
‘The Big Pitch’ defines the role the Scottish FA will play in addressing ‘the facilities gap’ and the
goals that will see the ‘appropriate mix’ of facilities achieved. Facility related issues, e.g. number of,
quality of, access to and cost, are consistent across the various levels of the game as was highlighted
by the McLeish Review. This is illustrated by a facility-specific variation of the Scotland United
strategic pyramid.
FACILITIES
PER
FO
PER
FO
RM
A
NC
RM
A
E/C
omm
NC
un
E
it y
Comm
un
it y
/Recreat
ion
Page // 15
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
National Facilities Strategy – Draft Final Report - 2006
As mentioned in ‘Focusing on the pitch’, strategic management consultants Genesis produced a
strategy framework for the Scottish FA back in 2006 which outlined the key facility related issues at
that time. Many of these are still ‘live’ today and indeed are referred to elsewhere in this strategy.
‘The Big Pitch’ takes cognisance of this document and provides an updated position on what are in
many cases, similar facility related challenges, just some six years further on.
The Scottish FA Youth Action Plan - 2004
The Scottish FA‘s Youth Action Plan launched back in 2004 saw implementation of a network of six
regions across Scotland to develop the youth and ‘grassroots’ game. Over the nine years since, the
regional structure has gone from strength to strength. Amongst the many initiatives taken forward
including club development, participation and player development, the Scottish FA regions were
also tasked with supporting facility development projects undertaken by local authority partners
and sportscotland. ‘The Big Pitch’ will address the facility related issues that are consistent across
the regions and support the hugely important role the regional staff play in working with clubs to
develop their facility related aspirations.
Page // 16
3
Summer 2013
Our partners - the people
we will work with to deliver
our goals.
The Scottish FA is critically aware that successful partnership working is absolutely
essential in delivering joint facility related goals. In turn, the Scottish FA has an
important part to play in delivering the football related outcomes and aspirations
of our partners. Our approach will be an integrated one with the key relationships
already established with partners in national government, local authorities,
sportscotland and the affiliated national associations across the non-professional
game being fostered for the longer term.
Local Authorities
Scottish Government
Scottish FA
sportscotland
Scottish Football Partnership
By playing its part in an integrated, multi-partner approach, the Scottish FA will,
together with other key stakeholders, influence investment opportunities on both
a local and national scale. The partners above will play a key role in delivering the
facilities needed to address the gap in provision as outlined in already-published
local authority pitch strategies, the Genesis report of 2006 and the McLeish
Report of 2010.
“The Scottish FA will proactively
support our key partners at
national and local level, working
collaboratively with them to
develop quality, grassroots football
facilities across Scotland.””
Page // 17
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Our Partners are…
• The Scottish Government - and in particular those departments which have an impact in the
areas of infrastructure, facilities, sports policy and community safety.
• sportscotland – Scotland’s national agency for sport and which has a vast pool of knowledge
and expertise in the area of facility development policy and delivery.
• All 32 of Scotland’s local authorities – in particular those departments concerned with Planning
and Infrastructure, Education, Sports and Community Development and Leisure provision.
• The 20+ sports and leisure trusts that currently deliver sports and leisure services across Scotland
- and indeed those which may be established in future.
• At Non Professional Game Board (NPGB) level, the Affiliated National Associations - the Scottish
Amateur Football Association, Scottish Junior Football Association, Scottish Schools Football
Association, Scottish Welfare Football Association, Scottish Women’s Football and Scottish
Youth Football Association.
• Our partners at Professional Game Board (PGB) level and at the various league bodies in the
country – the Scottish Professional Football League, East of Scotland League, South of Scotland
League and Scottish Highland Football League.
• The Scottish Football Partnership, who we will continue to work extremely well together with to
help support facility development projects at all levels of the game across Scotland.
• Other football governing bodies such as other home nation associations (FA, FAI, FAW, IFA),
plus the wider FA’s across Europe - particularly those in countries of a similar size and nature to
Scotland with whom we can share experiences and learn from.
• Other national governing bodies of sport. There is potential to work much more closely with
other pitch and indoor sports to realise mutually compatible facilities.
• All current Scottish FA Quality Mark clubs.
• Any football clubs aspiring to become Quality Mark clubs in future and of course the players,
officials and army of volunteers that support these clubs.
• Other local sports clubs holding similar facility-related aspirations.
• Community Sports Hubs as more and more of these become established.
• …and of course any other potential partners as they arise in future.
Page // 18
4
Summer 2013
New facilities - the
Scottish FA’s view on new
facility development priorities.
As high level targets, the Scottish FA promotes and supports the development of;
• Outdoor, full size, floodlit synthetic turf pitches (STPs) of 100m x 60m
playing area,
• Outdoor, full size quality natural grass pitches, floodlit where possible.
• Clubhouse/Changing Pavilions of a scale that supports the above.
• Outdoor Training facilities – as a guide, 60m x 40m synthetic training pitches
(STPs).
• Indoor Training facilities
• Indoor, full size STPs of 100m x 60m playing area.
The Scottish FA regards ‘third generation’ or 3G synthetic turf as the minimum
standard to be applied in the provision of new STPs. Whilst 4G and 5G variations
are much talked about by synthetic surface manufacturers, these are primarily
still marketing terms and aren’t yet of a markedly different specification to that of
3G. The major developmental leap was from 2G to 3G around 2000/01.
The Scottish FA is also extremely aware that a number of stakeholders in the
game look to the Association for guidance on a variety of matters. One of
the goals outlined within ‘The Big Pitch’ (Goal 6 – Providing our clubs with
improved facility development guidance) will see improved provision of advice
and information that will assist organisations with any new facility aspirations,
whatever their role and at whatever level of the game. Examples are…
• Local authorities who are developing a football facility strategy.
• Individual clubs who have aspirations to develop their own facility.
• A group of clubs who are looking to establish a ‘community football club’, or
in a multi-sport scenario, a ‘community sports hub’.
Page // 19
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Why the emphasis on synthetic turf pitches?
As stated earlier in this document, the Scottish climate and the vast amount of football that takes
place on natural grass pitches are simply incompatible and perhaps more worryingly, ultimately
unsustainable. That, together with the scale of activity that can be supported by STPs compared to
that on natural grass pitches, makes STPs the optimum solution in supporting football at ‘grassroots’
level and also at levels higher up the developmental pyramid.
Put in the context of the ‘Scotland United’ target of doubling the number of registered
players from 65,000 to 130,000 between the years 2011 and 2015, natural grass pitches
alone will simply not support this level of participation.
Before the development of STPs there was little option but to play on natural grass. However with
the ever-improving developments in synthetic turf technology, the flexibility offered by the surface
in terms of game size (4s, 7s, 11s) and the capacity for repeat play without detrimental effect to the
playing surface, STPs are the optimum solution - providing that pitch maintenance is of the standard
required and appropriate to the type of pitch and how much it is used. Lack of maintenance was
the mistake made with the previous 2G sand-filled synthetic surfaces. This must be learned from so
that the lifespans of these new STPs are maximised.
Why specifically 11-a-side pitches?
It’s simply down to the flexibility and versatility of the space. All sizes of the developmental game
recognised by the Scottish FA - 4s, 7s and 11s - can be supported on an 11-a-side pitch, however
you can’t play 11s on either a 4s or 7s pitch. 11-a-side pitches also better support the developmental
needs and demands of sustainable community clubs as youth teams become adult teams.
Page // 20
Summer 2013
Considering local factors and needs
The Scottish FA will always look to encourage the development of a facility that supports an
increase in participation in the game. Specific local factors such as availability, scale and shape of
the land available, ground conditions, related changing accommodation and of course budget all
have an impact on the scale of the facility that can be realised.
Some potential facility development projects will not match any of the ‘high level targets’ above.
Where this is the case, there is room for flexibility from these starting points providing the resulting
facility still meets certain criteria within, for example, Scottish FA Club Licencing or the funding
criteria in the appropriate sportscotland funding programme.
Reality tells us that not every football facility project will result in a new 11-a-side pitch. What a
local area, community group or club NEED by way of a new facility is clearly a significant factor,
therefore it goes without saying that any plans for smaller facilities will be welcomed. These
smaller facilities have a significant part to play given the diverse nature of Scotland’s population
centres and spread. Each particular project needs to be considered on its own merits. As such
the Scottish FA will support projects that will result in a facility that will support any size of the
game along the player pathway - providing the end-user clubs are adopting ‘best-practice’ in areas
such as governance, player development and positive coaching amongst other key criteria in the
association’s Quality Mark club accreditation scheme.
Page // 21
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Case Study 1…driving up
participation.
At the time what was a Scottish Football League club took the decision to install a new FIFA
2 Star 3G surface back in the summer of 2006. Although a carefully considered decision by a
pragmatic and forward-thinking football club board, even they probably didn’t appreciate the
scale of positive effect this was to have on their club in the years to follow.
The new surface immediately turned the club’s pitch from a surface used once every fortnight, save for
the odd midweek fixture, to one that could be used every day of the week. This massive increase in
capacity was hugely significant for the club, not only in terms of meeting their own training and match
requirements, but also what this could mean in potential revenue from pitch hire.
Having previously had to have one eye continually on what effect non-match activity had on the playing
surface, the decision to go 3G saw this issue disappear virtually overnight - as did the worry about games
being postponed during periods of cold and wet weather and the resultant fixture back-log at the end of
the season. Instead the club now had to focus on how to maximise use of the pitch. This clearly wasn’t
without its worries either, however it was certainly a more positive issue for the club officials to concern
themselves with, and with the benefit of hindsight, was ultimately one they needn’t have worried about.
From 100 kids being involved in the club’s community coaching programmes during the last season on the
natural grass pitch, participation rose quickly with 650 kids involved at the end of the first year on the new
surface to over 2000 kids by mid 2012.
Whilst football was certainly the catalyst for this project, within a relatively short space of time it became
clear that there was huge potential to reach out to other local sports clubs and organisations. Whilst the
3G pitch was installed primarily for football, it could of course support other sports and wider forms of
physical activity - especially at a developmental level. A partnership was sought with the local secondary
school to establish a ‘community sports hub’, the school offering much-needed indoor facilities. Despite
the resilience 3G has to the Scottish climate, indoor facilities remain key for particular sports and activities
and participants at either end of the age range, and of course everyone else when weather conditions
become particularly poor meaning that even 3G becomes unplayable.
The community sports hub initiative, led by sportscotland “is an exciting and innovative approach to
the development of sport in local clubs. It is designed to increase the number of people of all ages
participating in sport in communities across Scotland…and is a key part of the Scottish Government’s 2014
Games Legacy Plan.”
(For more information on Community Sports Hubs, please see www.sportscotland.org.uk)
Approaches were made to other local sports clubs to become part of the ‘hub’ and by February 2011, the
sports hub encompassed 5 sports and 62 members. By April 2012 this had risen to 15 sports and 500
members and the afore-mentioned 2,000+ participants per week - a massive growth in participation in
a very short period of time. Clearly not all the activity happens on the 3G pitch, with the school facilities
playing a huge part. However this fantastic success story illustrates perfectly just what can be achieved
when leadership, collaboration and determination come together and how 3G pitches can provide multisport opportunities, not just for football. Indeed, it is only a football pitch when the goals are up!
Page // 22
Summer 2013
Case Study 2…helping clubs to
develop a home.
A CashBack for Football Facilities project completed in August 2012 saw the installation
of a new FIFA 2 Star and IRB Regulation 22-compliant 3G pitch in an existing stadium
facility. It’s been a great success story so far involving a real collaborative effort by a local
community football club, local council, leisure trust, sportscotland and the Scottish FA.
As part of their business planning process, the local leisure trust (who were a project partner at
development stage and now provide on-going operational management support) equated that
the new 3G pitch would deliver some 1,584 sessions supporting over 55,000 player visits per year.
Although this figure includes for the community club players returning on a week-to-week basis, it
remains a fantastic level of activity compared to that on the previous natural grass surface. This is
illustrated in the table below.
Natural Grass Pitch
3G pitchDiff+/-
Average weekly headcount
1,066
Annual headcount
30 (average 1 game per week)
+1,036
1,56055,440+53,840
In addition to these basic headcount figures the community football club (the recipient of the
CashBack award), previously trained and played matches across a disparate selection of facilities
in the area such as schools, leisure facilities and public parks. As a result of the repeat play
opportunities offered by the new 3G pitch, the club was able to centralise almost all of their club’s
training and match day activity at the one location.
This concentration of activity also illustrates how the new pitch has had a positive impact in club
development terms. Utilising not only the stadium pitch, but the other pitches within the stadium
complex has given the club a true home and, believe it or not, also allowed some of the club’s
coaches to meet each other for the first time! The previous arrangements had meant that they
coached in isolation of each other as opposed to together – certainly not ‘best practice’ for
player development.
In addition and taking full advantage of the stadium environment - a unique feature of this
particular project - the club also agreed access with the leisure trust to ancillary facilities such as
a club meeting room which would double as a hospitality suite for matches, a club office and
player’s lounge as well as taking the stadium’s visitors dressing room as their dressing room – this
avoided conflict with the other football club who used the stadium ‘pre-project’ and with that the
designated home dressing room. The club re-fitted and re-decorated these various rooms and areas
in their club colours, memorabilia and trophies, further ‘anchoring’ the stadium as their
‘home’ ground.
Page // 23
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
The Scottish FA Player
Pathway - pitch
dimension guidelines.
Pitch Dimensions
11 v 11
100m x 60m with 3m run offs around all touch/goal lines
11 v 11
3m
11 v 11
3m
100m
60m
100m
3m
60m
3m
Development 7 v 7
Development 7 v 7
36m x 55m (minimum dimensions within a range of 36m to 45m x 55m to 65m)
Development 7 v 7
55m
36m
55m
36m
Recreational 7 v 7
Cross pitch in 3
Note: Scottish FA Club Licencing ‘best practice’ identifies 11-a-side field Recreational 7 v 7
dimensions as 105m x 68m, whilst dimensions for International Football sit at a
Cross pitch in 3
minimum of 100m x 64m.
60m
Page // 24
33m
55m
36m
Summer 2013
Recreational 7 v 7 (the following 3 options are based upon
splitting the above 11 v 11 pitch)
Option 1 – 60m L x 33m W – offering 3 pitches across the width of an 11 v 11
Recreational 7 v 7
Cross
pitch
Recreational
7v
7 in 3
Cross pitch in 4
3m
60m
60m
60m
33m
25m
Option 2 – 60m L x 25m W – offering 4 pitches across the width of an 11 v 11
Recreational
4 v 4 Cross
pitch in 87 v 7
Cross pitch in 4
3m
60m
60m
25m
30m
20m
Option 3 – 50m L x 30m W – offering 4 pitches quartering an 11 v 11
4 v 4 Cross pitch in 8
Recreational 7 v 7
Quarters
ch in 3
7
tch in 3
50m
20m
30m
30m
Recreational 7 v 7
Quarters
Page // 25
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
For coaching and development purposes the Scottish FA recommend the Development 7 v 7 size as
the optimum layout. However, the association is appreciative of the fact that many pitches also need
to be marked out for commercial purposes. As such, being able to split a full size 11 v 11 pitch into 4
slots instead of 3 creates an additional pitch slot which may be critical in income generation terms.
1 v 11
Recreational 7 v 7
Option 3 is a way of splitting a full size 11s pitch into quarters which is not as commonly
used.
does
Cross
pitchIt in
4
however offer
a
better
size
of
small
sided
pitch
50m
x
30m
being
directly
proportional
to
the
full
size
3m
pitch dimensions of 100m x 60m. This can assist in player development terms when young players
move from smaller to larger pitches at the ‘step-up’ age -groups.
Rotation of the whole pitch across the various options also means the areas of highest footfall
pitch
60m (goalmouths etc) are moved around the surface. This can have a positive impact in terms of60m
maintenance and subsequently the surface’s lifespan.
25m
4v4
30m x 20m
4 v 4 Cross pitch in 8
20m
onal 7 v 7
Cross pitch in 3
60m
Page // 26
30m
Recreational 7 v 7
Quarters
“All sizes of the
developmental game
recognised
by the
50m
Scottish FA - 4s,30m7s and
11s - can be supported
on an 11-a-side pitch”
5
Summer 2013
Current facilities - the
Scottish FA’s view on existing
facility re-development.
The School Estate
At the time of ‘The Big Pitch’ being launched, sportscotland were awaiting
the results of an ‘Audit of sports facilities and access within the school estate in
Scotland’, commissioned in the spring of 2012.
The outcomes of this study will be key in terms of identifying the extent to which
these facilities are open or closed beyond school hours, and if the latter, what this
equates to in terms of the number of hours of activity lost after 4pm. It will also be
interesting to note access available during school holiday periods. The Easter and
October school holidays in particular cause problems for clubs accessing facilities in
what is the midst of their seasons
The challenge will then be to open up what is closed, making these facilities
and the equivalent hours in lost activity available to the
wider community. The results of this audit will be
extremely interesting and will result in a number
of actions that should subsequently be
integrated into the work arising from
‘The Big Pitch’. It is vital that the
Scottish FA positions itself to
work in partnership with the
key agencies involved, such as
as Schools, Local Authority
Leisure Departments and
Leisure Trusts, ensuring
that football is well
represented.
Page // 27
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
The upgrading and/or replacement of redundant or underutilised 2G synthetic pitches
As technology has progressed, resulting in ever-improving developments of 3G synthetic turf, the preceding
surface – the second generation sand-filled pitch – remains. The number of 2G pitches across Scotland
is significant especially within the school estate where hockey is delivered as part of the PE curriculum.
In many cases the time these pitches have been down for and the variations in quality and frequency of
maintenance means many of these are now in serious need of replacement.
The construction of the 2G pitches means that in many cases upgrading them to 3G can be achieved much
more cost-effectively than building a completely new pitch. This has the potential to not only increase
the number of 3G facilities across the country but at the same time address the significant problem of
the growing number of sand-filled pitches coming to the end of their life, whether that be due to time or,
as is often the case, a lack of maintenance over the pitch lifespan. The Scottish FA wishes to explore the
opportunities this significant estate offers in this regard.
The Forgotten Generation - Ash & Blaes pitches
In these days of 3G synthetic pitches, and remembering the point made in the ‘New Facilities’ sections
about how suppliers are now marketing so-called 4th and 5th generation surfaces, it’s easy to forget that
even before the original 2G sand-filled synthetic surfaces of the 1980’s, there was the original alternative
surface to grass – ash or blaes. In particular pockets of the country (probably most prevalent in the West),
there is a huge estate of redundant red or gray ash or blaes pitches. The Scottish FA is keen to work with
partners to establish the potential there may be in ‘converting’ these redundant areas to a mix of natural
grass and where possible 3G thus breathing new life into what is a forgotten generation of sports pitch.
Football, Rugby and Hockey - the potential for a stronger alliance
The advances in ‘hybrid’ synthetic turf that can support football and hockey at a development level means
that the problem of finding a surface suitable to both sports has lessened to some degree - certainly since
the days of sand-filled pitches being the only option.
The exception is clearly performance/elite level where both sports are never likely to meet simply due to the
playing surface requirements for both sports being so different at that level. However, in developmental
terms and particularly when it comes to identifying a suitable surface that supports both football and
hockey when delivered as part of the school PE curriculum (hockey from S1-S3), there are now new
opportunities for a joint approach which previously didn’t exist.
Equally, the International Rugby Board’s decision in May 2012 that saw a 5mm reduction in minimum pile
height for IRB Regulation 22 compliance (from 65mm to 60mm) also means that the synthetic surfaces
requirements for rugby and football have come closer together than ever before. As with the football/
hockey ‘alliance’, there will be specific needs at performance/elite level. However pitches that support
developmental rugby and football should be easier to realise in light of the IRB decision.
These developments see football moving closer to both rugby and hockey which have always sat at
opposite ends of the spectrum of synthetic turf pile height. This should enable stronger alliances to be
formed between the 3 sports’ governing bodies. The Scottish FA are keen to examine this in more detail
and identify where partnership working may be able to realise new or refurbished facilities that support all 3
sports at a developmental level.
Page // 28
“Quality facilities are
fundamental to the success of
grassroots football.”
Page // 29
6
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Hitting the target - the
goals, the reasons why and
the tactics for success.
Goal 1 - Promoting the building of new,
high quality, football facilities.
Target…Scotland United Strategic Goal - Strong, Quality Growth
The Scottish FA will promote the building of new 11-a-side and training-sized
natural grass and synthetic turf pitches (STPs of a minimum 3G standard) that will
support the game from development to performance.
According to research, the successful development of players depends upon a
mix of quality natural grass, synthetic and indoor provision with the right type of
facility in the right places. The location-related issues will be addressed by
Goal 4.
Encompassed into the development of these new facilities will be appropriate
access arrangements that support the development of high participation,
sustainable community football clubs, or in a multi-sport context, community
sports hubs.
At performance level, we will identify, promote and support the building of high
quality facilities that meet the needs of the Scottish FA Performance Strategy.
This includes work already underway with the Scottish FA’s Performance School
programme and the National Performance Centre project.
Delivery of a Performance Strategy requires recognition that the mix and quality
of facilities has a major bearing on the development of players and specifically
around elements such as the delivery of the 10,000 hour concept, critical in
the development of elite athletes. It is also important to note that by delivering
facilities that are fit for performance level, this also delivers for participation.
We will work to change the traditional perception that grass pitches are where
competitive games should be played and that STPs are only for training. A
change in approach must ensure that synthetic pitches are used more often for
matches at all levels of the non-professional game. The fact that 8 professional
clubs in the Scottish Professional Football League also now play their home games
on a synthetic surface is evidence that this change needs to happen. It should
also be remembered that when matches are played on STPs instead of natural
grass, the impact on the natural grass pitch is reduced so helping to maintain the
quality of that surface for longer into the season.
Page // 30
Summer 2013
Reasons…
Perhaps most significantly, if participation is to grow in line with the targets set within ‘Scotland
United’, which outlines an increase of registered players from 65,000 in 2011 to 130,000 by 2015,
grass pitches alone will not be able to support this. The case and, more importantly, need for
additional STPs is clear in terms of reaching and then as importantly maintaining these targets.
Whilst natural grass pitches by their very number and spread will continue to support the majority
of football related activity, STPs will better support an increase in participation. The core problem is
that there are currently an inadequate number of STPs to support the development of the game.
STPs also better combat the Scottish climate in comparison to natural grass surfaces. They are
better able to cope with both rain and frost and also small accumulations of snow - all of which
result in natural grass pitches being deemed unplayable more quickly.
Tactics…
• Identify opportunities for partnerships with other pitch sports to ensure that investment can
have a multi-sport reach where possible and with that unlock additional funding.
• Promote priority developments with strategic investment partners such as local authorities and
sportscotland.
• Support key volunteers in clubs to drive forward community football and wider multi-sport
related facility developments.
• Raise awareness of different operational models for ownership and operation of community
developments (e.g. leased site, full ownership, community asset transfer, establishment of social/
community interest companies).
• Prioritise gaps in provision such as the lack of indoor provision across Scotland.
• Identify the type and standard of facility required at Performance/
Elite level. The hierarchy should be determined in terms of indoor
provision, high quality grass, high quality STPs, floodlights and
pavilion/changing facilities.
• Consider approaches to SPFL clubs regarding potential
use of their ‘academy’ facilities for development
squads and other youth initiative programmes.
• Audit senior clubs current facility provision as part
of any Scottish FA youth related investment.
• Assist club partners to address their youth
academy related facility gaps.
Page // 31
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Goal 2 - Redeveloping existing facilities and improving
access to them.
Target…Scotland United Strategic Goal - Strong, Quality Growth
The Scottish FA will support the refurbishment of existing and under-utilised pre-3G synthetic facilities to a
minimum of 3G standard.
In tandem with this, and through an appropriate cost/benefit exercise, there should be an identification of
natural grass pitches that should be prioritised for improvement given their under-lying quality.
In both instances, appropriate access arrangements must be considered that support the development of
sustainable community football clubs and sports hubs at such facilities.
Again in relation to both of the above, consideration must be given to appropriate, supporting changing
accommodation of a size that maximises use of the related pitches, allowing for efficient pitch change-over
and is of a standard that provides an environment which encourages players to continue to play the game,
not turn away from it.
Reasons…
It is a view long held by many including sportscotland, who, in their National Audit of Scotland’s Sports
Facilities identified that ‘74% of natural grass pitches’ and ‘61% of synthetic grass pitches’ were regarded
as requiring ‘replacement or significant upgrading’.
Pavilions and changing areas were identified as ‘generally found to be in the poorest condition with 21%
of them deemed to have deteriorated beyond repair and thus needing to be replaced.’
It is no great surprise that in light of such statistics (which are now almost 6 years old and thus percentages
are likely to have increased) redeveloping the existing stock of facilities (where economically prudent to do
so) figures highly as a goal of this strategy.
Tactics…
• Support the work of sportscotland who, together with schools, local authorities and the Scottish
Futures Trust are working to open up the school estate, using these facilities to support the
development of more community sports clubs and hubs.
• In partnership with other key agencies, examine the issue of accessing school facilities out with school
times. New school builds must include for after school access for clubs. Existing contracts, where there
is no or limited after school access, must be re-visited and solutions sought.
• Promote priority developments with strategic investment partners such as local authorities and
sportscotland.
• Identify and support key volunteers in clubs to drive forward community related developments.
• Raise awareness of different operational models for ownership and operation of community
developments (e.g. leased site, full ownership, community asset transfer, establishment of social/
community interest companies).
Page // 32
Summer 2013
Goal 3 - Better connected - working in partnership
to address facility related challenges.
Target…Scotland United Strategic Goal - Strong, Quality Growth and Respected and
Trusted to Lead
The extent to which local authorities support football through the provision of core facilities
is unquestionable, with the vast majority of football activity happening at facilities under local
authority management. This also means that many of the facility-related challenges and barriers to
access that the game faces are found here. The Scottish FA will be a proactive partner in addressing
these.
In addition, local authority pitch strategies and the new or refurbished facilities that result from
them are absolutely fundamental to improving football facilities across Scotland. The Scottish FA
will endeavour to be a key partner in the development of these strategies and will provide support,
advice and encouragement to local authorities to develop pitch strategies that address the issues
highlighted in this document and those at a more local level. The Scottish FA wishes to work more
closely with local authority partners than ever before, assisting when required throughout the
stages of facility strategy development and to play its part in delivering on these strategies across
the country.
There are also a number of other organisations which the Scottish FA can work more closely with to
address the most common facility challenges across our game. “Working in isolation”, “ploughing
their own furrow” and “steam-rollering over other sports” are accusations that have been levelled
at the Scottish FA in the past. Whether true or not, the Association will work harder to develop
solid working relationships with local authorities and other key organisations such as sportscotland,
the affiliated national associations, the various league bodies or indeed any other partner with a
focus on improving facilities for football and indeed wider sports.
Reasons…
Scotland’s 32 local authorities and 18 leisure trusts provide a blanket of core facilities across the
country where the vast majority of football activity takes place. As the national governing body for
the sport, the Scottish FA must play an active role in supporting these organisations.
It is fantastic that so much activity happens within local authority facilities. The Scottish FA must
however be ready to assist local authorities in addressing the many, varied and often extremely
challenging issues they are faced with as a result of the levels of activity happening at their facilities.
The Scottish FA has a key influencing role to play in relation to facility development yet in the past
the Association has played a limited part in influencing or determining facility-related strategy.
Many of our partners have little idea about how the Scottish FA views facility development and
so can only make assumptions on our behalf. This needs to be addressed. The affiliated national
associations and Regional Manager network have a key role to play in this area.
“The Scottish FA wishes to work
more closely with local authority
partners than ever before”
Page // 33
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Tactics…
• Work with sportscotland to co-ordinate intelligence relating to local authority football strategies
currently under development.
• Develop relationships with organisations and agencies which will better position the Scottish
FA as a key influencer in sports facility provision and policy development. These include
representative bodies such as COSLA, VOCAL and SPORTA and government agencies such as
sportscotland, the Scottish Futures Trust and the Scottish Sports Association amongst others.
• Review the disparity between natural grass and latest generation synthetic pricing.
• Tackle the issue of blanket and premature postponements resulting in fixture congestion.
• Promote staggered kick off times at league level – 10am, 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm. Also encouraging
a flexibility to kick off at any time within these times (10.15am, 12.30pm etc)
• Meet quarterly with sportscotland and other organisations to assess and co-ordinate any
intelligence relating to current or potential football facility projects or indeed wider sports facility
projects which could include provision for football within them.
• Work with other national governing bodies of sport on a project by project basis to build a
stronger lobbying voice in respect of specific development opportunities.
• Ensure football has a strong regular presence and input to all football facility related meetings
particularly at local authority level.
“The extent to which
local authorities
support football
through the
provision of
core facilities is
unquestionable”
Page // 34
Summer 2013
Goal 4 - Understanding current provision by
mapping Scotland’s football facilities.
Target…Scotland United Strategic Goal - Strong Quality Growth
This project will see all football related facilities in Scotland mapped by location and with
information provided on that facility such as type, size, quality, contact details and user clubs.
This will not only be a useful reference tool for all stakeholders to use to find existing facility
information, but will provide much needed intelligence that will inform decisions being made on
where new facilities are needed or existing ones improved. This goal is fundamentally linked to the
achievement of Goals 1 and 2.
Reasons…
Until there is a clearer understanding of the gaps in provision, it is extremely difficult to make
informed decisions as to where new facilities should be provided. This lack off intelligence needs to
be addressed.
This is an extremely important piece of work, hence why it has already been started ahead of the
launch of this strategy. It will inform all stakeholders as to what facilities there are and where, and
equally importantly it will also illustrate where the gaps are.
The above tool, together with the Scottish FA’s new Football Administration system which more
closely records data associated with Quality Mark clubs, means the association is now in a better
position to identify participation demand. Number of players, coaches and teams associated
with clubs are all data which can be viewed with more certainty than ever before. This helps to
identify where there are significant pockets of players and so where demand for new facilities is
most needed. However this needs to be complimented by an easy to use interactive tool that all
stakeholders in the game can utilise.
Tactics…
• Development of a fully interactive map which displays important facility-related information location, type, size and quality of pitch, relevant demographics including social indices, local
authority detail and club and user group data.
• Work with other related organisations, local authorities and sportscotland to share common
data and mapping ‘best practice’ in order that such a tool is kept up to date in terms of new
facilities, changes and closures.
• Inclusion of ‘mapping layers’ detailing population and existing facilities will accurately pinpoint
where population and/or demand identifies where new facilities are needed.
• Development of a new and improved process that will identify where new facilities should
be located. This will involve closer working with key partners such as sportscotland, local
authorities and the affiliated national associations through the established Scottish FA regional
committees and using data available from the map to assist in the decision making process and
provide robust evidence as to why such decisions were taken.
• This improved decision-making process will result in a list of projects ready for any future rounds
of funding such as CashBack for Football. This will place the Scottish FA in a positive position
to react when or if any new funding opportunities are announced, improving upon the previous
more reactive approach.
Page // 35
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Goal 5 - Change of Season - providing evidencebased answers to the perennial debate.
Target…Scotland United Strategic Goal - Strong, Quality Growth & Respected &
Trusted to lead
The Scottish FA will commission a study led by an institution prominent in the field of sports related
research to fully examine the ‘change of season’ argument. Initially this will be looked at in the
context of the non-professional game, although factors pertinent to the professional game will also be
considered.
This study will involve intelligence and data gathering that will reveal the fundamental issues which
would need to be considered before any ‘change of season’ could be implemented. This will be
done through consultation with key partners, interviews with affiliated national associations, local
authorities and other stakeholders, together with consideration of relevant case studies and the
outcomes from topic-focused workshops.
The study will outline recommendations regarding the optimum ‘season’ for all development football
and how this may be implemented in light of all the issues identified as part of the research. The
study will examine the merits and demerits of i) a complete change of season, ii) an extended winter
break to minimize the impact of the weather on pitch facilities and in turn fixture schedules, and iii)
the season as it is currently played.
Irrespective of the outcome of the study, the research conducted will provide the game with a much
needed, evidence-based document that will outline ‘change of season’ options. This will allow the
various stakeholders in our game to better consider the way forward, any potential change and the
all-important next steps that would be central to the implementation of any ‘change of season’.
Reasons…
A ‘change of season’ for the developmental game has been a subject of debate for a number of years
with a number of positives and negatives on both sides of the argument. This study will explore these
issues, together with the other key factors that have a critical impact on when the game is played.
The main advantages to changing the season for developmental football are primarily climate based.
Less games and training sessions would be cancelled during poorer weather with this likely to have a
subsequent, positive impact on end of season fixture congestion. There may be higher participation
levels during the period of the year when both weather and increased periods of daylight result in
a more positive environment for both coaching and playing and also for the many volunteers and
parents on the side-lines.
Furthermore, it is estimated that 80% of damage done to natural grass surfaces happens within
20% of the year. Subsequently there should be a direct and positive impact on the quality of natural
grass surfaces from the season being organised over a period that minimises play during the period
of poorest weather. This will also have a subsequent positive impact on related maintenance regimes
and budgets at local authority level.
This study will help determine the extent to which these advantages are likely to be realised, meaning
any decisions will be made on the basis of evidence rather than assumptions.
Page // 36
Summer 2013
Tactics…
• Undertake a specifically commissioned study to consider the issues related to ‘changing the
season’. This study will not only identify the optimum season, but of equal importance in terms of
maintaining natural grass pitch quality, it will also outline when not to play. The implications and
timescales associated with the implementation of any ‘changed season will also be fully identified.
• Identify and address fundamental issues such as the effect on local authority pitch maintenance
programmes and staffing.
• Produce a deployment and communication plan highlighting the risks and issues which require to
be addressed.
• In the event of any change, seek agreement from all stakeholders regarding the scope and timing
of any implementation plan and critical buy-in that will be required from all local authorities
involved in order that leagues that cross council boundaries can continue to run.
• Utilise resources available at regional offices to support the implementation plan.
“It is estimated that
80% of damage
done to natural
grass surfaces
happens within
20% of the
year.”
“It is a fact
that 60-70%
of the current
season is
played when our
weather and the
level of daylight are
least favourable.”
Page // 37
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Goal 6 - Providing our clubs with improved facility
development guidance.
Target…Scotland United Strategic Goal - Strong, Quality Growth & Respected and
Trusted to Lead.
The Scottish FA will develop a ‘suite’ of facility development and guidance information that will be
accessible as downloadable documents via the Scottish FA website.
This information will include that which experience and evidence tells us is most sought after by
both football clubs and officials.
This will include improved communication and support from the Scottish FA relating to developing
project briefs, funding packages and facility planning and programming in such a way that fully
supports a club’s development.
Reasons…
Like any other national governing body for sport, the Scottish FA has an obligation to provide clubs
with sound information and guidance – in this case related to helping them develop their own
facility. At present this information is limited with the Scottish FA depending on information from
other agencies (e.g. sportscotland and other national football associations) to supplement what
information exists.
Tactics…
• Create a brand new section on the Scottish FA website containing downloadable ‘best practice’
facility development advice. This will include information on synthetic and natural grass surfaces,
the maintenance of these surfaces, goal systems appropriate to all sizes and levels of the game,
floodlighting, changing accommodation, fencing and all other elements which contribute to the
development of a football facility.
• Availability of successful case studies of clubs who have already developed their own facilities.
• Cascade relevant UEFA and FIFA facility information to clubs and stakeholders, in particular the
UEFA facility group, keeping abreast of all current and future facility related issues.
“... the Scottish FA has an
obligation to provide clubs
with sound information
and guidance”
Page // 38
Summer 2013
Goal 7 - Promoting the Community Sports Hubs
concept through football.
The target…Scotland United Strategic Goal - Strong, Quality Growth & Respected and
Trusted to Lead.
The Scottish FA hope to play a lead role in this key sportscotland initiative, encouraging and
supporting Quality Mark clubs, and those aspiring to be one, to become involved in the ongoing
development of wider Community Sports Hubs in their local area.
The Scottish FA, whilst ensuring the needs of their clubs are looked after, will also ensure that the
larger and thus often more powerful clubs don’t exert unfair influence in the establishment of these
hubs to the extent that this is detrimental to the other sports and/or partners involved.
Reasons…
The Scottish FA is fully appreciative of the fact that there are a great number of sports out there
other than football. We also understand that the people who play these sports are as equally
passionate about their sport as we are about ours. The Scottish FA wants to play its part in
‘sportscotland’s contribution to the Scottish Government’s 2014 legacy plan’.
The Scottish FA has an obligation to contribute to the community sports hub initiative that is
‘designed to increase the number of people of all ages participating in sport in communities across
Scotland’. Football can be a real catalyst in helping to achieve this and the target of having 150
community sports hubs established by 2016.
Tactics…
• Encourage football clubs to embrace the community sports
hub concept, appreciating the strength that being part
of one larger club can bring to the individual clubs
within it yet without fear of losing each club’s
individual identity.
• Support like-minded clubs in one geographic
area to work together and understand that
the ability to unlock funding is increased
when working together in partnership.
• Link Scottish FA Regional Managers and
Club Development Managers with their
equivalents at sportscotland in order to
better understand facility development, the
community sports hub concept and remain
conversant with developments in this area and
perhaps most importantly help identify potential
community sports hubs in their regions.
Page // 39
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
EAST OF
SCOTLAND
FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Key Players...
Below is a list of the key organisations involved in football in Scotland and/or who have been referred
to within this document. We hope you find this a helpful contact list and source of additional
information for future use, whatever level of the game you are involved at.
Scottish Football Association
Tel
0141 616 6000
[email protected]
Webwww.scottishfa.co.uk
Recognised Leagues
East of Scotland Football League
Tel:
07862 295028 (Douglas Purves)
[email protected]
Webwww.eosfl.com
Scottish Highland Football League
Tel
07876 761233 (John Grant)
[email protected]
Webwww.highlandfootballleague.com
Scottish Lowland Football League
Tel:
07887 791505 (Andrew Waddell)
[email protected]
Webwww.slfl.co.uk
Scottish Professional Football League
Tel
0141 620 4140
[email protected]
Webwww.spfl.co.uk
South of Scotland Football League
Tel
01556 504369 or 07783 666626 (Colin Holden)
[email protected]
Webwww.southofscotlandfootballleague.co.uk
Page // 40
Summer 2013
Affiliated National Associations
Scottish Amateur Football Association
Tel
0141 620 4550 (Hugh Knapp)
[email protected]
Webwww.scottishamateurfa.co.uk
Scottish Junior Football Association
Tel
0141 620 4560 (Tom Johnston)
[email protected]
Webwww.scottishjuniorfa.com
Scottish Schools’ Football Association
Tel
0141 620 4570 (John Watson)
[email protected]
Webwww.scottishschoolsfa.com
Scottish Welfare Football Association
Tel
07815 103973 (John Campbell)
[email protected]
Webwww.scottishfa.co.uk/swfa/
Scottish Women’s Football
Tel
0141 620 4580 (Maureen McGonigle)
[email protected]
Webwww.scottishwomensfootball.com
Scottish Youth Football Association
Tel
0141 620 4590 (David Little)
[email protected]
Webwww.scottishyouthfa.co.uk
Partners
sportscotland - the national agency for sport
Tel
0141 534 6500
[email protected]
Webwww.sportscotland.org.uk
The Scottish Football Partnership
Tel
0141 887 3863
[email protected]
Webwww.thescottishfootballpartnership.com
Page // 41
Scottish FA Facility Strategy
Page // 42
Spring 2013
“I love playing on grass,
but the improvement in my
technical ability since playing
on 3G is amazing. It gives me
a confidence to try new things
during a game”.
Gareth
Page // 43
The Scottish FA
Facilities Strategy
Spring 2013