Mainstream Football

What is Mainstream Football?

Mainstream football refers to the traditional game that most people recognise – played in clubs, schools, and community settings across the world. Increasingly, it is becoming a platform where persons with disabilities can take part side by side with non-disabled players, ensuring football is truly for all.

Why it Matters

Shared experiences – players with and without disabilities learn, train, and play together in the same environment.
Integration into the football family – ensures that disability is not a barrier to participation in the world’s most popular sport.
Breaking down stigma – challenges stereotypes and builds mutual respect through teamwork.
Inclusive pathways – provides choice for players with disabilities: whether in pan-disability football, impairment-specific formats, or mainstream teams.

The Experience

Mainstream football settings are being supported to become more inclusive, welcoming, and adaptable. Coaches and clubs are increasingly trained in disability inclusion, ensuring that persons with disabilities can enjoy football alongside their peers, develop their skills, and feel part of the wider community.

Regular Rules - Open to all

Players that have the ability and want to participate in mainstream activity should be signposted to the appropriate playing opportunities where they can be fully included on an equal basis with others in football.

Teams, clubs and leagues may need to consider any additional support they need to provide to include persons with disabiities, but this should always be with the player involved and making decisions on what they feel will support them.