It’s all about providing a high quality recreational introduction to football for disabled players aged 4-8 years old. It’s about turning up and enjoying fun sessions in a local environment that could lead to a player’s lifelong love for football.

We are welcoming applications from all Berks & Bucks grassroots clubs who have aspirations to provide playing opportunities for disabled footballers. BOBiCats Disability Football Centres will be fully supported by Berks & Bucks FA through every stage of establishing a new disability football provision within your club. 

Grassroots clubs will need to run a weekly BOBiCats session for a minimum of 10 weeks (must be completed by June 2020).

All centres will receive a £300 grant and 10 Nike Footballs.

All centres will have use of professional designed marketing materials, digital assets for online promotion and a dedicated support officer to aid the development of the session. A bespoke promotion action plan will be designed for each centre to highlight local disability networks to help spread the word of the new disability football provision.

Each centre will have the opportunity to attend a CPD workshop aimed to build up the coach’s confidence of coaching disabled footballers. Coaches will have access to 10 weeks of session ideas and the opportunity to liaise with an FA Coach Mentor for continued coaching support. The funding each centre is provided could be used to provide a specialised coach to help setup your clubs BOBiCats Centre.

Following 10 weeks of sessions all BOBiCats Centre will have the opportunity to attend a BOBi league event and play other BOBiCats centres and/or U8 or U12 disability teams from across the region.

There is no prerequisite that BOBiCats Centres have to continue past the initial 10 weeks of sessions, however it is our hope your club find the BOBiCats Centres a positive and essential addition to what your club currently offers. Additional funding can be accessed by BOBiCats centres, through the Grow the Game scheme, to continue past the initial 10 weeks of sessions and affiliate a Disability Team for the 2020/21 season.

All organisations must be affiliated to Berks & Bucks FA.

There should be a minimum of two coaches in attendance at all sessions. The lead coach should hold a minimum of an FA Level 1 Coaching Certificate with an in-date CRC, FA Safeguarding, FA Emergency 1st Aid. All coaches must have an in-date CRC. The funds can be used to provide coaching services.

Coaching ratios should not exceed 1:10 (minimum 2 coaches). There are no specific minimum numbers that centres have to hit.

Players should be aged between 4-8 years old with any Learning or Physical Disability.

All organisations must have a Safeguarding Children Policy.

All organisations must have a Designated Safeguarding Officer. This can be the Club Welfare Officer.

All facilities should have proof that the venue complies with Health and Safety Regulations.

All organisations should have Public Liability Insurance.

Berks & Bucks FA are committed to supporting all BOBiCats centres with a dedicated support officer, access to high quality marketing materials, ideas to promote your sessions and ways to sustain your sessions following the initial 10 weeks.

There has never been a better time to get involved in Disability Football and we will help you every step of the way.