Youth Council
Giving Young People a Voice in Grassroots Football
Our Youth Council are a group of young leaders who aim to inspire, empower, and provide a voice for all young people to influence change, and positively impact football in Hertfordshire
Created in the summer of 2023, our Youth Council has established five focus areas in support of Hertfordshire FA’s wider strategy; Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Women and Girls, Coaching, Refereeing, and Wellbeing. The Youth Council also assists in the organisation of the County Cup competitions, as well as expanding its own social media presence.
To ensure that our Youth Council continues to make a meaningful impact in the county for years to come, we have contributed to the 2024-28 Hertfordshire FA Strategy, shaped using ideas generated and results gained in our first year of operation. This will provide us and our future youth council members with long term objectives so that development is sustainable, effective and at the heart of our decision making.
Our Youth Councillors are aged between 16-24 and each paired with a member of Hertfordshire FA staff to be mentored and supported in their own development. This means that each champion has the opportunity to pursue their own projects that they feel passionately about with the guidance of their mentor.
Interested in being part of this group and supporting the development of local youth football? Contact beth.dawes@hertfordshirefa.com for further information.
Supporting the Next Generation of Football Leaders
If we are to build a bright future for football in our county, we need to ensure the voice of young players, coaches, referees and volunteers is reflected in our work.
Establishing the Youth Council is the latest step in formalising the input of young people into our organisation and providing them with a platform to influence Hertfordshire FA decision making.
We are also keen to support any club in starting a Youth Forum so players have a say in how things are run (see below).
Due to the proportion of affiliated football being played by young people, it's vital to ensure that their voices are heard in the administration and development of the game.
Meet the Youth Council
Introducing the members of our Youth Council and their areas of focus
Madeline
Chair
A Sports and Exercise Psychology graduate with previous experience as a referee and Wildcats centre coach in Hertfordshire and has been volunteering at Hertfordshire FA for over 5 years. Responsible for managing the planning and structure of the Youth Council, Maddy is motivated to create a sustainable platform for young people to make a meaningful difference to football in the county.
“Football is a tool that can change lives and make a really positive difference.”
Sofia
Vice Chair & Digital Media Champion
Working with players aged from 18 months to adult, gaining insight in various areas of Hertfordshire football ranging from Coach, Manager, Assistant Sports Therapist to Club Welfare Officer as well as supporting social media activity. Sofia is driven to highlight more of the ‘behind the scene’ roles of sport to inspire our youth.
“The beauty of football is how it unites everyone from all walks of life.”
Noah
Referee Champion
A qualified referee who understands the value of sport to develop confidence and leadership skills, using volunteering as a platform to balance both social and professional development.
“I’m delighted to be on the Youth Council. As a qualified referee myself, I will make it my priority to help young referees cope with the stress of the role.”
Rufus
Referee Champion
A qualified referee who aims to use his knowledge and experience to provide support and guidance to young referees across Hertfordshire.
“I am proud to join the Youth Council as a Referee Champion, I hope to build connections and provide support to the network of young referees in Hertfordshire.”
Xander
EDI Champion
As someone who has loved playing football from a very young age and an advocate for using physical activity to reduce stress and promote self development, Xander is excited by the opportunity to improve everyone's accessibility to the sport by eliminating discrimination and abuse.
“Football is a fantastic vehicle for charitable organisations to raise funds and spread awareness.”
Ella-Mae
EDI Champion
Responsible for ensuring all young people are represented and have opportunities in Hertfordshire, Ella-Mae looks to work with the grassroots football community to promote diversity and inclusion within the game.
"The wider societal benefits of grassroots football can be transformational, I will look to push for more opportunities for all to participate."
Reece
Women & Girls Champion
Heavily involved with coaching, aiming to create an inclusive community environment for everyone to develop their love for the game. Reece thrives off of seeing the smiles on players' faces and is passionate about contributing to the growth of the female game.
“There is no such thing as a loss. Either win, or learn.”
Enya
Women & Girls Champion
An experienced player with a desire to encourage more females to imbed themself and achieve their full potential in the football structure either as a player, referee or coach.
"Nothing is impossible when the word itself says I'm possible."
Phoebe
Women & Girls Champion
Responsible for supporting young females to take part in football in Hertfordshire and have access to all opportunities, Phoebe is passionate to see the Women and Girls game grow and thrive.
"I'm delighted to be apart of the Youth Council and hope I can expand my network and make a positive impact upon the Women and Girls game."
Faye
Mental Health & Wellbeing Champion
Overall, the aim is to empower and support people by supplying them with the knowledge to look after their mental health as much as they do their physical, both on and off the pitch, so they can continue to grow and thrive.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Fitz
Coaching Champion
Actively coaching across the county, constantly broadening experience through actively seeking opportunities and qualifications in areas including goalkeeping and futsal.
"Much of my time is devoted to football, so it's great to have the chance to make a positive impact on something I'm passionate about"
Ruby
Coaching Champion
Focused on the women's game with years of experience working with all age groups, Ruby takes pride in bringing the best out of the county’s female players, bringing out their confidence, talent and skill.
"Enjoy every practice, every drill, every coach ride, every game, every locker room speech, it all ends too soon."
Get Involved in Running Your Club
Involving young people in making decisions that affect them is important. Not only does it mean that they are more likely to have a positive experience, but also it gives them a sense of ownership and the chance to learn new skills.
For football to continue thrive in the future we must encourage and embed an ethos of community volunteering in the younger generation and bring these young people through into leadership positions in the structures of clubs and leagues.
We are committed to ensuring young people are actively involved in the development of the game and have produced a guide to help any club interested in launching a Youth Forum to get started. Visit our Youth Zone pages to find out more.