Our Project Idea

Our proposal has been written for the Football Association (FA) to develop an online social network to promote the values of football. The FA point of contact is the Director of Digital Engagement. Our focus point for promoting the FA’s values is grassroots football, broadly referring to Saturday and Sunday leagues for both adults and children, as well as five aside. Our social network will empower league organisers, team managers, players and parents of players with the tools to organise season. For example, league organisers will be able to publish a season calendar around which other may be able to organise their time and publish league tables as seasons progress. Managers will be able to organise their players around matches and practice sessions using communication tools. Both players and their parents (if required) will be better able to organise their own time.

To enjoy these benefits, community members must adhere to the FAs rules and regulations. These rules and regulations can be found on the FAs websites and are presently enforced using media campaigns, league administrators and referees. Using behavioural science, these rules and regulations will be both promoted and enforced through the social network. It will become possible to distribute compelling messages tailored to individuals using techniques such as empathy mapping. It will also become possible to promote positive behaviour by refereeing infringements of the rules and regulations. Members identified with negative behaviours on the social network will receive appropriate sanction, akin to the yellow and red cards of the game. It is through promoting and enforcing the FAs rules and regulations that SoccerNet seek to create a community of people proud to be footballers.