Football is one of the most popular sports in Special Olympics Great Britain and there are lots of options to get involved in the game as an athlete or volunteer.
Special Olympics GB named as FA National Partner
The FA funds the full-time role of Conor McBrearty as Special Olympics GB's Football Development officer, which allows the FA grassroots Disability team to engage and support more players with intellectual disabilities and get involved.
In 2023 Special Olympics GB became the FA's third Disability Partner, joining Cerebral Palsy Sport and Wheelchair FA, and it is included in the new Disability Football Strategy, Football Without Limits.
Special Olympics GB supports the delivery of the Grassroots Football Development Project through the following England Football participation programmes:
FA Comets Programme
Comets is a recreational, pan-disability football programme for disabled boys and girls aged 5-11 with Special Olympics GB supporting the roll-out of the programme across its network of grassroots clubs.
Comets offers a new, flexible and inclusive way of playing, that’s all about playfulness, friendships and having fun. More than anything, Comets is football that breaks the old rules and replaces them with a brand new one: JUST BE YOU.
Each club that provides Comets will receive:
- £500 start-up funding
- Kit and Equipment( balls, bibs , cones, sensory toys)
- FA comets training for your coaches
Current Special Olympics GB Comets programmes:
- Special Olympics St Albans
- Believe Sports – Special Olympics Lincolnshire
- Special Olympics Essex
- Special Olympics Flyde
- Special Olympics Cambridgeshire
If interested you are interested in getting involved with Comets please get in touch with Conor McBrearty (SOGB Football Development officer) via email conor.mcbrearty@sogb.org.uk
Special Olympics GB/ Just Play(Adults Recreational Football) Programme
Just Play is for men, women aged 16+ of all abilities.
You may have never kicked a ball before, but whatever your reason for getting involved, there’s a space for you with Just Play.
Just book online and turn up for a game. We provide the pitch, balls, bibs and teams and a Just Play Organiser looks after your game.
Supporting Coach Education (FA Learning) and Volunteer team’s
Special Olympics GB delivers the Grassroots Football and Workforce Development Project, which works with the FA Disability Coach Mentor team and is part of the new Coaching Disabled Footballers Course.
Special Olympics GB is also in the early stages of producing a new coach CPD called Learning Disability in Football with Mencap.
This project is centred around the development of a football specific coaching pathway, providing essential CPD opportunities for those currently coaching football, and for those wanting to coach football aligned with new and developing England Football provision.
Disability Training For Clubs
Special Olympics GB supports the content of the FA Disability Training for Grassroots Clubs.
Ready to start offering disability provision at your club? Sign up to attend one of our FREE face-to-face, local workshops, where you'll learn all about how to engage disabled people at your club.
Disability Toolkit For Clubs
A guide to support you on your journey to start or grow disability provision. Our toolkit offers the opportunity to self-assess your existing offer and plan next steps for your club.
Scroll down the page to find your nearest Special Olympics GB local club or network. Click the links below to find more sport specific information;
The Home of Scottish Football | Scottish FA
The Official Website of the Football Association of Wales - FAW