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Genesis the Strategic Management consultants were employed by the Association to review the area of High Performance in July 2006. This review is the way forward and has been taken on by the Board of the FAI.
The main areas the FAI are to be concerned with are:
• A New focus for 6-12 year olds from competitive to developmental football matches
• Create a National Academy and up to 12 Regional Academies
• Appoint an International Performance Director
• Establish an International Performance System and an International Performance Group
• Encourage more locally based players into International structures
• Provide additional logistical support for Senior and U21 International teams
• Adapt the organisational structure in line with new resource requirements
FAI Chief Executive John Delaney told the FAI website:
"Because we work off a small reservoir of players compared to other countries, even those of a similar population, there is an onus on us to make sure that the players going through our system get the opportunity to maximize their potential,".
"Over the past three years we have worked hard to ensure there is, for the first time ever, an integrated approach to Irish soccer with the creation of a proper football pyramid rather than different sectors doing their own thing. We are looking at every aspect of Irish soccer and leaving no stone unturned in our determination to make sure we have structures that will allow players to fulfill their potential.
"Everything we are doing, whether it is building the new stadium, moving to Abbotstown, running the eircom League of Ireland, developing the women's game, expanding our team of development officers or servicing our 17,000 qualified coaches, is done with the intention of improving every aspect of Irish football.
"There is now a proper player pathway whereby a boy or a girl can start with his or her local schoolboy club and graduate at 11 to the local centre of excellence to train under the guidance of UEFA licensed coaches. At 14, a player can progress to a regional centre before entering the international squads system and ultimately the national academy.
"This won't stop players going to
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