Off-field goals

Football — a game played across the globe, with players ranging from professionals in stadiums to children in their backyard. It has the highest television audience of all sports, and involves physical fitness and stamina and mental stability, concentration and visualisation. For those interested in the sport but don’t want to be players, there are various options ranging from sports management and administration to sports science and nutrition. In India, the sport is governed by The All India Football Federation (AIFF), which is in charge of the national men’s and women’s team, and the different youth teams, and also oversees all competitive tournaments at the national and state levels; the latter through state associations. It also offers a variety of courses in all aspects of football, such as coaching modules, referee courses, scouting workshops, and football management, states Kushal Das, the General Secretary of AIFF. The organisation has recently partnered with Pearson Education Ltd to offer the BTEC International Level 3 qualification in India. Das describes the course, which has been crafted with the guidance of the English club Liverpool FC, as a roadmap for those who wish to chart a career in sport and football and a hands-on career-oriented diploma. He adds that it will be useful for those who want to study abroad as it is recognised in over 40 countries by various sports organisations, institutes and governments.