Following a welcome address from AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh, the panellists received an update on the latest endorsements under the acclaimed AFC Grassroots Charter which now features 43 Member Associations (MAs).

With fostering a love for the game among young children being a major principle of grassroots football, the panel members underscored the importance of creating a positive and safe environment for youngsters, with a special focus on children under the age of eight.

“It is imperative to be aware of what really attracts youngsters so that we can utilise those elements to draw them to the sport,” said Roxburgh.

“At such a young age, there is always a danger of young kids giving up owing to a number of reasons, so it is also important we help children overcome fear and encourage them to play regularly.”

Yet another highlight of the event was the endorsement of the AFC Children’s Coach Certificate, the Confederation’s latest initiative aimed at equipping grassroots coaches with knowledge and skills that align with the AFC Coaching Convention. Equivalent to a D-Licence in some MAs, the new introductory course is aimed at parents, teachers, students and other volunteers.

The experts also touched upon the newly introduced Triple A Project, built on the pillars of Analysis, Advice, and Accreditation, which is designed to enhance engagement between the AFC and its MAs through periodic summits.

Additionally, the participants reviewed the latest findings of a survey conducted in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba in Japan, to strengthen grassroots and elite youth competition structures and identify areas of improvement.

Finally, before concluding, the panel was updated on the Confederation’s upcoming grassroots football events, including the publication of the latest edition of the AFC Grassroots Review and the commemoration of the 12th AFC Grassroots Football Day in May, to be held in conjunction with FIFA's World Football Week.