Lincolnshire FA is proud to announce that the Big Football Ask survey project was submitted for a 2024 County FA Recognition Award in the Youth Engagement category.

This initiative sought to gain a deep understanding of youth participants’ perspectives on adult conduct within football and its impact on their experience, aiming to amplify young voices across the county.

Why the Big Football Ask?

Through club communications and Safeguarding Validation Visits, Lincolnshire FA identified a strong perception among adults involved in youth football about what they believed young players wanted and felt. However, through direct engagement, it became clear that adult assumptions were often quite different from the players’ actual views. This disconnect highlighted the need for youth players and referees to share their own experiences, helping Lincolnshire FA better understand their needs, motivations, and concerns.

Survey Design and Engagement Strategy

In collaboration with the Lincolnshire Youth Council, we launched a carefully structured survey via Microsoft Forms. The survey was designed to cater to a wide range of ages, with branching questions specifically tailored to both younger players (7–12 years) and older participants (13–18 years). The survey also offered a free-text response option for the older age group to provide detailed feedback, allowing them to describe specific positive or negative experiences.

Over three months, Lincolnshire FA reached over 400 youth participants across Lincolnshire, incentivised with a prize draw for six matchday tickets to one of the county’s professional clubs. Marketing for the survey was targeted on platforms like Instagram, where older players are active, and Facebook, where parents were encouraged to support younger players in completing the survey. Additional promotion, including QR codes, was also featured in changing rooms and e-programmes at all County Cup Finals, securing 12% of the survey’s total responses.

Survey Findings

A total of 407 responses were received, with a balanced response across the two age categories: 236 from 7–12-year-olds and 171 from 13–18-year-olds. The insights gathered reveal both positive experiences and key areas for improvement in youth football environments:

• Positive Experiences Among Younger Players
  Among the younger respondents, 92% reported enjoying their football experience, primarily due to participation and the opportunity to socialise with teammates. They overwhelmingly chose adjectives such as “kind, helpful, positive” to describe both their peers and adults involved in the game. However, some responses indicated that younger players feel adult behaviour in football could improve, particularly when compared to other sports.

• Older Players’ Views on Competition and Conduct
  While competition was a major motivator for 13–18-year-olds, 45% of respondents in this group described adult conduct as “inconsistent.” They expressed a notable increase in the frequency and intensity of language directed towards referees by adults, with 30% more of the older group recognising this issue compared to younger players. Additionally, free-text responses from the older participants highlighted both positive and negative examples of adult behaviour, with 31% of responses mentioning positive conduct, 30% highlighting negative experiences, and 39% containing mixed feedback.

  Notably, a significant portion of older participants referenced poor conduct by parents, which they felt diminished their enjoyment of the game. However, there was also positive feedback on initiatives such as Silent Support Weekends, which some players felt helped create a more enjoyable matchday atmosphere.

Strategic Response and Future Initiatives

The findings of the Big Football Ask survey will drive Lincolnshire FA’s Youth Council to lead a strategic response in the Youth Voice element of the County FA’s four-year strategy. To ensure the voices of young people inform the entire football community, Lincolnshire FA plans to publish differentiated impact reports tailored to participants, adults, and media platforms, ensuring that youth insights reach all corners of the Lincolnshire football landscape.

Additionally, the survey results will directly support the Positive Matchday Environments strategy, which is focused on creating mandated, supportive environments at local Youth League games. By embedding young players’ feedback into this initiative, Lincolnshire FA aims to create a validated and sustainable foundation for positive adult conduct and enhanced youth experiences on matchdays.

Moving Forward with Youth Voices

The Big Football Ask represents Lincolnshire FA’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for youth participants in football. By championing youth perspectives, Lincolnshire FA is laying the groundwork for a future where young players feel heard, valued, and empowered to shape their football experience.

Ben Pearce, Head of Safeguarding & Football Operations, said: "The Big Football Ask has given us invaluable insights straight from our youth players and referees, helping us understand what really matters to them in their football experience. By actively listening to their voices, we’re not only better equipped to support positive matchday environments but also to build a culture that genuinely respects and values young people’s perspectives. This project reflects our commitment to youth engagement and our dedication to creating safe, supportive spaces for all involved in grassroots football."

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