"Street Games for All"

Supported by

Supplied by

The C.A.F.E. Project launched the UK’s first “Street Football for All” Project and instantly proved a hit with young people.

The idea for our original “Street Football for All” game with its distinctive rules originated in Colombia where it was developed as “Football for Peace” and in Germany as “Street Football for Tolerance”.

The Pitch

The portable sports pitch (15 metres x 10 metres) can be erected on any surface. Quickly assembled, it is ideal for transporting into a local housing estate, school playground or supermarket car park for a few hours.  It is self-contained.

The aims of “Street Games for All” are wide ranging and include engaging young people and encouraging socially acceptable behaviour whilst connection young people with the mainstream. The game will provide an alternative for young people from life on the streets, drugs and alcohol and will promote the development of interpersonal skills including interaction, negotiation and compromise and encourage equality between males and females. By using sport as the tool young people can channel their energies into the game in a structured manner promoting safety and health for young people and ultimately leading the greater employability of young people.

The Game and its Fair Play Rules

The game is played with eight on the pitch at one time. Each game lasts 4 or 5 minutes. Teams determine the rules at the start of the match. They typically provide for

• Each team to include at least one girl

• No kicking or elbowing

• No bad language

• An extra point to be awarded if a male and female each scores for one team

• An agreed form of “celebration” by all to follow every goal

• Claims for penalties to be resolved through negotiation (There’s nae ref!)

• Points to be awarded or deducted for good or bad sportsmanship by agreement between the teams

Young people are trained as advisors to help participants agree the rules at the outset and, at the end of each game, to agree on points to be awarded and deducted for compliance or otherwise with the special rules. An extra point is awarded for ‘Fair Play’. The team scoring fewer goals can win!

Our first pitch and a trailer was purchased from Germany in 2003 (the first in the UK) with funding from Safe Angus for Everyone and Scottish Enterprise Tayside. Such was the game’s popularity that a second pitch and trailer was purchased in 2004 with funding from Tayside Police.

The Aims

• Encourage socially-acceptable behaviour

• Provide an alternative to life on the street, alcohol and drugs

• Encourage equality between males and females

• Promote the development of interpersonal skills including interaction, co-operation, negotiation and compromise

• Promote safety for young people by channelling their energies into sport in a structured manner

• Promote health by involvement in sport

• Reconnect young people with the mainstream

• Provide an alternative for young people from life on the street, alcohol and drugs

• Promote the employability of young people

Participation is open to all young people including those with disability. Young people’s participation in the decision-making process at the start and end of the game allows them to develop communication skills as well as confidence in dealing with others. They are encouraged to take the lead in picking teams, timing the games, recording the scores and even helping assemble and dismantle the pitches

Photo File

For Further information on "Street Games for All" please contact either Lee Crosby or Gavin Beith on 01241 875200