The roll-out of the FAI’s Primary Playbook course took place at six venues across Ireland this week.

The course, which educates teachers on how to use the medium of football to engage children in physical activity, was hosted following a successful trial last summer in partnership with Wexford Educational Support Centre.

Following the trial, the Primary Playbook Course now forms a key part of the FAI’s Education & Development Strategy 2025-30 that was launched in April.

Teachers from Ireland took part in the week-long sessions in West Cork, Cork City, Donegal, Co. Longford, Carlow and Co. Tipperary with the aim of using football as a vehicle for education in the classroom and playground.

FAI Football Development Officer Raff Cretaro, who headed up the course in Aughnacliffe Co. Longford, said: “As our new strategy says: ‘where there’s football there’s education, and where’s there’s education there’s football’, and I think the two marry together very well and the course has shown this can work and be brought into the classroom and out into the yard. The teachers were looking to be shown how you practically implement football into schools to elevate children’s learning but also participation of football and the feedback has been positive about this.”

Caitríona Lynch who is a teacher at Sacred Heart Primary School, Granard, Co. Longford added: “ We learned a lot of ideas we can bring back to the classroom. We looked at things like European tournaments and how you can bring those countries into learning and then taking that and going out and playing soccer in the yard. They’re really simple ideas but really fun. Football is a universal language and we’ve had people from different countries come into our school but all them know the language of football. It brings everyone together.”

Head of Education & Development Niall O’Regan said: “I am delighted to see the growth in the delivery of our teacher training summer courses, with the programme evolving from the pilot in 2024, to six training centres in 2025 and more than 60 teachers completing the five-day training.

“The programme has been really well received by the teachers who have completed it, as it provides them with the tools needed to use the medium of football in the classroom. It promotes physical education and as wider way to implement wellness, inclusivity and maximise participation through the multiple roles and responsibilities in our game.”