The aim of the Emerging Talent Programme is to raise the technical ability of players across all levels of the game through a provision of further training and lifestyle development at schoolboy league and regional level.
Download the Emerging Talent Manual [PDF 2.36MB]
Our aim is to provide our emerging talent with a clear pathway by giving them the opportunity to train and play with the more talented players and coaches in their area, thus providing them with a more challenging level of training and development.
The Emerging Talent is split into two parts. The regional centres are for players aged 14-16 and are totally controlled by the FAI. Feeding the regional centres are the schoolboy league centres that will be for players predominantly aged 11 - 16. These league centres will follow a technical plan; guidelines and procedures set out by the Fai and are run by the individual leagues.
Sean McCaffrey the Under-17 and Under-19 International Manager says "The start of the Emerging Talent Programme has enabled me to give regular assessments on all the home based International players whilst also giving me the chance to view new or fringe players in a professional and challenging environment. Noel Haverty of St Pats and Patrick Mullins of Geraldines are two examples of players I have capped recently as a direct result of the Emerging Talent system."
Vincent Butler the Under-15 and Under-16 International Manager said "with the pilot schemes for 11-year-olds being run by the leagues under the F.A.I. programme, it follows that by the time the players are 14 and eligible for the Under-15 International team their technical ability should be greatly improved.
With regard to the regional coaching groups at 14, 15 and 16, this to me is proving very successful and is giving great hope to talented players who up to now have been overlooked for international honours. For example, on 11th March next we played Northern Ireland in two games at U-16. Included in these squads were seven uncapped players who have impressed in the regional sessions.
I am happy that if the emerging talent system progresses as planned, a major improvement in the standard of individuals and consequently international teams will ensue over the course of a few years."
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the schoolboy leagues that have participated in the Pilot Emerging Talent Programme and hope everyone enjoys the games and hopefully cheers the boys into the European finals.
John Morling
Player Development Manager
Participating schoolboy leagues Dublin and District, North Dublin, Kildare, Inishowen, Sligo and Leitrim and Wexford.
After extensive research within the football community during the completion of the plan, a unanimous view prevailed that a programme to overcome the gaps that exist within the current football structures in Ireland is necessary.
Following in depth discussions between the FAI and the SFAI it was agreed that the objective of this programme should be:
“To work in partnership with relevant stakeholders ( affiliates / clubs / leagues / parents / coaches etc ) to implement on a national basis an organised development programme for talented young players “
In order to achieve this objective the FAI in partnership with the relevant stakeholders has developed The Emerging Talent Programme which aims:
• To identify, develop, monitor and evaluate players in all age groups
• To enable emerging talent to develop all of their capacities to their potential
• To provide emerging talent with a more challenging level of training and development
• To provide emerging talent with the opportunity to train within their own area in a more structured and quality environment
• To provide a higher quantity and quality of players for National and International teams
• To improve the quality of players across all levels of the games
It is the belief of the FAI that its Emerging Talent Programme will have a positive and long lasting effect on the development of football in Ireland. The future will see local standards continually rise and will eventually result in a higher standard of player playing in Irish national squads, national league or clubs, representative teams and playing at Grassroots level.