Nationwide Football Talent Hunt Kicks Off

The AIFF, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and School Sports Promotion Foundation (SSPF) have come together to launch a Football National Talent Search & Nurture program as India prepare to host the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in 2017. The football talent hunt is structured from the bottom up – starting at schools, moving up to district level, then further to the state level until, finally, the very best talents from each state compete at a national-level to earn a place on coach, Nicolai Adam’s India Under-17 squad.

The program has already kicked off in regions across the country and is open to all players born on or after 1 January, 2000. Geared to provide young footballers the opportunity to showcase their skills and impress the coaches, there is a lot riding on the success of this talent hunt. Undoubtedly, the scale of the initiative is massive and strewn with challenges, but the hope is that the federation will unearth some hidden gems along the way.

With the U17 World Cup not too far away, the AIFF is pulling out all stops to give the national team every chance of performing well at the tournament.  So whether it is a young footballer in the fields of Churachandpur or the hills of Mallapuram, there is hope that he will get his chance on the big stage.

This is how the National Talent Search & Nurture Program has been structured: (Source: SSPF Website)

District Level

• A minimum of four schools must enter teams in any one district or else, the district would be attached with an adjoining district with more than 4 entries. The district team formed in this case would be named after the district that has more than 4 teams.
• Every four teams within a district would be clubbed into a CLUSTER.
• The teams of the cluster will play on league basis and a total of six matches would be played.
• Any one of the four participating schools may volunteer to become the HOST SCHOOL, where the CLUSTER league matches would be played.
• In case of more than one cluster [4 teams] in the district, the top teams in the CLUSTER points table will play on knock out basis.
• The team winning the District tournament will be declared the District Champions.
• A district level awards ceremony shall be held where such awards shall be presented and the district teams declared.
• As the matches are played at the CLUSTER or DISTRICT level, players from winning or losing teams would be shortlisted by participating officials, on the basis of individual performances.
• Such shortlisted players will be invited for field trials to be conducted by experienced coaches and selectors soon after the conclusion of District Tournaments.
• A Probables list would be drawn from the shortlisted students who would be called for a coaching camp of appropriate duration.
• A final team shall be selected at the conclusion of the coaching camp based on the potential and performance of participants, who will form the District team.
• The District Team shall be announced at the District Awards ceremony.

State Level

• Every group of 4 four contiguous districts will form a REGION within the state.
• States with more than 4 participating districts may have several REGIONS.
• The 4 four DISTRICT teams will play on league basis.
• Two top teams on the league tables will then play on knockout basis as per established norms.
• The team winning the STATE tournament will be declared the STATE Champions.
• A STATE level awards ceremony shall be held where such awards shall be presented and the STATE team declared.
• As the matches are played at the REGION or STATE level, players from winning or losing teams would be shortlisted by participating officials, on the basis of individual performances.
• Such shortlisted players will be invited for field trials to be conducted by experienced coaches and selectors soon after the conclusion of STATE Tournaments.
• A Probables list would be drawn from the shortlisted students who would be called for a residential coaching camp of appropriate duration.
• A final team shall be selected at the conclusion of the coaching camp based on the potential and performance of participants, who will form the STATE team.
• The STATE Team shall be announced at the STATE Awards ceremony.

National Level

• Every group of 4 four contiguous STATES will form a ZONE within the state.
• India will have several ZONES.
• The 4 four STATE teams will play on league basis.
• Two top teams on the league tables will then play on knockout basis as per established norms.
• The team winning the NATIONAL tournament will be declared the NATIONAL Champions.
• A NATIONAL level awards ceremony shall be held where such awards shall be presented and the NATIONAL probables are declared.
• As the matches are played at the ZONAL or NATIONAL level, players from winning or losing teams would be shortlisted by participating officials, on the basis of individual performances.
• Such shortlisted players will be invited for field trials to be conducted by experienced coaches and selectors soon after the conclusion of NATIONAL Tournaments.
• A Probables list would be drawn from the shortlisted students who would be called for a residential coaching camp of appropriate duration.
• A final team shall be selected at the conclusion of the coaching camp based on the potential and performance of participants, who will form the NATIONAL team.
• The NATIONAL Probables shall be announced at the NATIONAL Awards ceremony.

The best boarding schools across the country will be invited to volunteer to become CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE for a designated sport. Students/players forming part of the NATIONAL team will be offered 100% scholarship based admissions in these centers of excellence. The NATIONAL team members will receive the best quality of school education for the remaining years until completion of class XII. The best national and international coaches will be positioned in these centres of excellence to ensure that the members of the NATIONAL teams receive the best of both; education & sports coaching.

School Football Council Members

• SQN. LDR. S.S. Hakeem
  Chairperson, School Football Council
• Mr. Rohit Parasher
  Member School Football Council
• Mr. Ranjit Thapa
  Member School Football Council