England Futsal Showcases Performance Pathway
England Futsal today shines a spotlight on its Performance Pathway, a cornerstone initiative designed to nurture and elevate the nation’s most promising futsal players.
The Performance Pathway consists of two key training and development environments:
The Performance Programme, providing senior male and female players with high level training to prepare players to compete on the international stage; and
The Talent Development Programme, focusing on the development of high potential male and female youth players at U19 and U17 levels from across the country.
Together, these environments form an integrated pathway that supports players to help them realise their full potential.
The Performance Pathway has grown considerably this season, from approximately 90 players last season to almost 250 players. As the Performance Pathway receives no funding, players self fund the opportunity, whilst supported by England Futsal to obtain player training sponsors as well as a bursary scheme to support players who are in need of financial assistance to ensure non-performance barriers are removed.
“The Performance Pathway is about creating opportunity and excellence for every player. We’re committed to building environments where players can thrive, ensuring that each individual — from youth to senior level — has the support, structure, and belief to realise their full potential.”
Sion Kitson, Head of Development and Technical
At a Performance Programme level, 22 men and 22 women attend regular training camp weekends accessing two training sessions a day supported by a staff team of specialists in technical coaching, injury prevention, nutrition, wellbeing, performance analysis, and strength & conditioning. Senior players are invited to join the Performance Programme as a result of participating in elite domestic competition demonstrating their potential and consistent performances for their club.
Beyond the camp weekends the players also access remote support and education workshops, and have further access to the multidisciplinary staff team. From the Performance Programme, England Futsal National Teams are selected for international competition.
You can find out more about our performance staff HERE.
By combining expert coaching, performance science, and strategic development, the Performance Programme ensures senior athletes are equipped with the knowledge, support, and experience required to excel on the international stage. With international competition occurring in 2026 for both our senior men and women the Performance Programme will play an integral part in the preparation of our players.
The England Futsal Talent Development Programme supports 200 high-potential young players across two regional hubs, each aligned to the standards within the Performance Programme. The Talent Development Programme is a two-year programme focusing on players at U19 and U17 levels, providing a structured and holistic environment designed to nurture the next generation of high potential players.
Each hub is led by an expert technical coaching team, supported by a multidisciplinary network of professionals specialising in performance, wellbeing, analysis, and physical development.
You can find out more about our Talent Development staff HERE.
Throughout the season, players take part in six intensive training camps, featuring double on-court sessions, an inter-hub games programme, and a series of off-court education sessions, complemented by six online learning workshops. This blend of practical and theoretical learning ensures that players gain a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to perform and progress at the highest level of futsal.
A central pillar of the programme is the Pride DNA — England Futsal’s guiding framework for player development. The Pride DNA aligns on and off court experiences, providing a consistent reference point for values, performance behaviours, and technical standards. It also shapes individual development plans for every player, ensuring personalised progression throughout a player’s England Futsal journey.
The Talent Development Programme delivers provision based at first-class facilities, including Repton School, University of Derby, University of Bedfordshire, University of Hertfordshire, and Lilleshall National Sports Centre.
Players are selected into the Talent Development programme following attending an assessment phase, which club and school coaches are invited to recommend players for. In September, almost 350 players took part in the assessment process for the current two-year cycle.
England Futsal remains committed to nurturing potential, developing excellence, and building a sustainable pathway that connects and transitions youth development into our senior performance programme.
