Football

Football is widely considered to be the most popular sport in the world.The beautiful game is England's national sport.

It's fast, skilful, fun and open to everyone. Most of us have kicked a football around at some point. One of the real beauties of the game is that it can be a sport for life. Friends and children in the park, jumpers for goalposts. Its free, fund and one of the best ways to keep fit and healthy.

Football is governed internationally by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football), which is commonly known by the acronym FIFA. The most prestigious international football competition is the World Cup, held every four years. This event boasts an audience twice that of the summer Olympics!

There are six international disability squads, one for each specific impairment. These squads represent England in friendly internationals as well as in European and World Championships.

The six international Disability squads are:

• England Amputee Football Team
• England Blind Team
• England Partially Sighted Team
• England Deaf and Hearing Impaired Team
• England Cerebal Palsy Team
• England Learning Disability Team

Cumbria Womens League

With the continued development of girl's football in Cumbria, Cumberland FA in partnership with Westmorland FA have extended the pathway for all players at all levels. Cumbria Women's League is now in its second season with nine teams currently part, a 50% increase on season 2008/09. Teams from across Cumbria have the opportunity to play competitive football without travelling out of the County. 

EVENTS

Just Play

Westmorland County Football Association are pleased to announce the opening of the Just Play Centre in Kendal. The centre runs sessions on Tuesday evenings from 5.30-6.30pm for adult male and female players to come along and take part in regular football in an informal recreational setting. The sessions will include a mixture of small-sided games and fun recreational games like World Cup knockouts, heads and volleys and anything else that the players would like to see. The emphasis being that the players choose the activities they would like to have in their session. Whatever your level there will be something for everyone!

All sessions will be overseen by FA Level 2 Qualified Coaches. For more information and to book a place visit the Kendal Just Play Centre website  and enter the postcode LA9 6PJ.

Street Soccer Events

Freestyle football masterclass, 3vs 3street soccer battles, panna cage;challenge UK Panna Champion, Blastin Urban Music 

School Holidays Skills Centre

The Westmorland County FA Holiday Skills Centre provides opportunities during the School Holidays for any young players (boys and girls aged 5 - 12 years) wanting to play football, learn new skills and above all have fun.

COURSES

• Coaching Deaf Footballers Course - 10.00am - 4.00pm on Saturday 25th February 2012 @ Liverpool Soccer Centre. Booking Form
• British Sign Language for Football Course - 10.00am - 4.00pm on Thursday 1st March 2012 @ Liverpool Soccer Centre. Booking Form
• The FA Youth Award - Module 2 (Developing the Practice)
• The FA Goalkeeping Coaching Award (Level 1)
•  WFA Coaching Wheelchair Football Course 
• FA:Time to Change - Mental Health Awarness in Sport Course

NEWS

JAN 2012:   West Girls Show Skills in Futsal - 70 girls took part in the West Cumbria Futsal festival this weekend with teams from the local area getting their first taste of Futsal this year.

USEFUL WEBSITES

• Football Association is the National Governing Body for Football in England and it also has CountyFA's spread across the country.
• Cumberland FA which covers Allerdale, Carlisle, the majority of Copeland and some of Eden.
• Westmorland FA covers the other part of Eden as well as south Lakeland.
• Lancashire FA covers the Barrow district as well as South Copeland.
• Disability Football website has a list of disability football clubs, as well as contacts and information about the game.
• Wheelchair Football website sells wheelchair football products and gives useful information on safety and the rules of the game.
• English Federation of Disability Sport is the national body responsible for developing disability sport in England. This site offers news and resources, event information and contact information and lots of links for different disability sports.
• Little Kickers Cumbria provide football classes for children age 18 months - 7yrs old throughout the county.
• The Football Foundation Apply for a grant for your club.
• Your Game The FA's support for administrators, parents and volunteers