STATE OF THE GAMEMondays, Sky Sports News
STUDIO DISCUSSIONMonday nights, Sky Sports News
DAN ROAN'S BLOGRead it here
Over the next six weeks Sky Sports News will be looking closely at all aspects of grassroots football in this country.
State Of The Game will be focussing on different areas of the national game, such as youth football, women's football, the future of the 11-a-side game and behaviour, from players, officials and supporters - and steps being taken to improve it.
Our chief news reporter Dan Roan has been out and about throughout the country talking to the people involved and every Monday on Sky Sports News, he will be bringing you his latest findings.
He will also be going on-line right here on skysports.com after each of the six-part series to give you a more detailed account of the State of the Game.
There are plenty of ways for you to get involved with our State of the Game campaign:
WATCH Dan's reports every Monday on Sky Sports News - or catch up with the latest videos right here on skysports.com throughout the week.
DEBATE the future of football in this country. Tune in to watch the studio debate every Monday at 7.30pm on Sky Sports News and then share your thoughts and stories here on skysports.com
LOG ON to skysports.com to read Dan's blogs as he explains the State of the Game in greater depth.
Week One: Grassroots Facilities
Week Two: Touchline Trouble
Week Three: Ref Rage
Week Four: Participation
Week Five: Women's Football
Week Six: Youth Development
Week Six: Youth Development
Does more need to be done to improve the development of young players in this country?
Dan Roan took a look at the way youngsters are coached in the UK and compared it to methods used in places such as Holland and Spain where there is less emphsis on height and strength and more on touch and technique.
We also examined the different ways in which coaches are trained and recruited and spoke to a number of high-profile figures about what is being done.
See Dan's report on academies
Watch Monday night's studio debate here
Read more about youth development here
Watch Dan's report here
Join the skysports.com debate here
Read Dan Roan's State of the Game blog here
Week Five: Women's Football
Girls football is the fastest growing sport for females in the UK, but when compared to the men's game there are gross inequalities.
The sport is taken far more seriously elsewhere across the world, but here it is largely overlooked.
We look at the lack of teams and options for female footballers and ask whether there should be a professional league for women.
Read more about Female Football here
Watch Dan's report here
Watch Monday night's studio debate here
Read Dan Roan's State of the Game blog here
Join the skysports.com debate here
Week Four: Participation
Across the country, the number of people playing 11-a-side football is falling.
Why is this the case? Is the problem across the board and at all age groups and both sexes? Why are more people turning to five-a-side football? What is being done about it?
These are some of the questions we'll be asking as State of the Game series investigates the issue of participation in grassroots football.
Read more and join the skysports.com debate here
Watch Dan's report here
Watch Monday night's studio debate here
Read Dan Roan's State of the Game blog here
Week Three: Ref Rage
Grassroots referees are quitting the game in increasing numbers because of the verbal and physical abuse they receive.
Around 7,000 referees have given up the game this year because of abuse and already this season there has been a spate of assaults on referees by amateur footballers.
We look at what can be done to improve the situation at amateur level - and whether or not the professional game should set a better example.
Read more about Ref Rage here
Watch Dan's report here
Watch Monday night's studio debate here
Read Dan Roan's State of the Game blog here
Join the skysports.com debate here
Week Two: Touchline Trouble
Parents regularly go to watch their youngsters play football, but sometimes they cross the line - quite literally - and enter the field of play or shout abuse at players and officials.
The problem is so bad that games are being abandoned across the country and we considered the impact it is having on young players and amateur referees.
We spoke to a number of key figures to look at what is being done to improve behaviour on the touchlines.
Read more about Touchline Trouble here
Watch Dan's report here
Watch Monday night's studio debate here
Read Dan Roan's State of the Game blog here
Read Chelsea Youth coach, Eddie Newton's views here
Join the skysports.com debate here
Week One: Grassroots Facilities
Derelict grounds and a lack of football pitches are nationwide problems and we looked at the difference between the attitudes to sporting facilities between here and abroad.
We spoke to those involved in this country and compared them to facilities in Holland.
We spoke to Sir Trevor Brooking, the Football Association's head of development, who urged the Government to follow the lead of our European neighbours.
Watch Dan's report and the studio debate here
Read Dan Roan's State of the Game blog here
Join the skysports.com debate here
