FOOTBALL3
football3 is a unique way of playing football that is changing lives across the world. It is based on the principle that the basic values of fair play, gender equality, teamwork and respect are just as important as football skill.
Named after its ‘three halves’ - a pre-match discussion, a football game and post-match discussion - football3 incorporates key life lessons into every match. In mixed-gender teams, players collectively decide on the rules before the game. Following the match, they reflect on their behaviour and the behaviour of their opponents, with points awarded for goals as well as for fair play. As football3 is played without referees, players must learn how to resolve conflicts themselves through dialogue and compromise.
football3 is inspired by street football. Across the globe players meet, form teams, agree on rules and play football. football3 harnesses the educational potential of street football ensuring that dialogue and fair play are integral to the game. It can be played by anyone, anywhere and it can be used to address any social topic. There are no referees. Instead, mediators facilitate discussions between the two teams and monitor the match.
football3 was originally developed by Jürgen Griesbeck, founder and CEO of streetfootballworld, and his colleagues as a reaction to the death of footballer Andrés Escobar. Escobar was the captain of the Colombian national team who, at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, made a mistake and scored an own goal that led to the elimination of his team. Eleven days later he was shot dead. This day changed Jürgen’s life: how could football, a game based on teamwork, communication and respect, lead to such a violent act?
Following a long period of research, in 1996 Jürgen and colleagues developed Football For Peace, adapting a regular football match to facilitate dialogue among young people who were participating in or affected by armed conflict. It worked brilliantly and has since been developed by streetfootballworld network members worldwide into a methodology to address social issue in a range of local contexts, united under the term ‘football3’.
For more information on football3 check out the streetfootballworld football3 manual: DOWNLOAD HERE
