SSFL Grassroots Training Camps Over 16 Grassroots Teams Formed

From Four Zones

One team each of Under 14 Boys and Girls as well as Under 17 Boys and
Girls have been formed from four zones of Delhi.

Over 3,000 footballers participated at Grassroots spotting camps largest

turnaround for any grassroots football initiative in the country

477 selected players underwent training

273 selected to form 16 teams

STAIRS Schools Football League (SSFL) concluded its final phase of

Grassroots Training Camps for under 14 and under 17 girls and boys
across Delhi. The training camps were conducted across various locations
across 4 zones of Delhi.

The players chosen for training were spotted at 33 grassroots spotting

camps which saw a 3,000 footballers turning up for trials. The camps were
conducted by Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) with support from Society for
Transformation, Inclusion and Recognition through Sports (STAIRS).

DSA coaches spotted 477 footballers from over 3,000 players who
participated at grassroots camps and trained them for a considerable
period. The final screening was done after training and skill building
exercises and best performers (273 players) were chosen to be a part of
STAIRS teams for each zone. These selected teams one team each of
Under 14 Boys and Girls as well as Under 17 Boys and Girls get a
wildcard entry to SSFL and they compete with some of the best teams in
the respective age categories from over 300 schools of Delhi.

SSFLs grassroots spotting and training camps that begin about a quarter
before the beginning of the SSFL league matches has become one of the
most sought after event for the budding footballers at the grassroots.

Each season of Grassroots Camps has been different for better. The
participations numbers have been increasing and the enthusiasm among
young players is motivating, encouraging and promising. Overall, our
efforts of last three years are showing results as the football culture that we
all have wanted to create is now visible at the grassroots.

This year, the camps not only saw the higher turnaround or participation,
but also a significant improvement in their skills. Some of the players who
have graduated from under-14 category to under-17 this year put up a
great show during the trials. Some of the young children amazed us with
the improvement in their paying skills as well as the attitude. Interestingly,
the parents too have started to understand the significance of letting their
children explore their potential, hence are supporting our efforts the first
step towards building a sporting nation.

We are grateful to political leadership, especially the honourable Members

of Parliament Smt Meenakshi Lekhi, Dr Udit Raj and Shri Maheish
Girri who had engaged some of their field workers to ensure that
communication about camps reaches most people and deserving children
do not miss out on the opportunity.

We are also thankful to Shri Mansih Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of

Delhi, for beliving in our initiatives and sharing grounds that facilitated
additional camps this year and helping us meet the objective of reaching
out to as many footballers as we can, said Shri Siddhartha Upadhyay,
founder & secretary general, STAIRS Foundation.

Cited as one of the worlds largest talent scouting and training programme
for football, SSFL has become one of the most significant platforms for
football fraternity seeking to acquire talent at an early age. While many
officials and individuals from professional bodies keep their eyes on the
budding players during the matches, selectors from international foreign
clubs watch live streaming of important matches and even call for
recorded videos to see performance of promising players.