Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has approved a women's football roadmap aimed at increasing the number of registered female players to 1,500 by 2030.
The plan was endorsed by FAM member clubs at an extraordinary congress held at Meerumaa Hotel yesterday.
The roadmap sets out four key initiatives to expand participation in women's football, with a focus on schools, grassroots development and competitive opportunities.
School football
Under a programme titled Football for School, FAM plans to recruit more female players by incorporating football-related activities into the physical education curriculum of schools, particularly in the atolls.
Grassroots festivals
FAM also plans to hold regular women's football festivals across different atolls to encourage more girls to take up the sport from an early age.
Inter-school competitions
For the first time, the association will introduce inter-school football tournaments for girls.
The roadmap states that the competitions will provide schoolgirls with a structured and competitive environment to develop their skills.
To ensure talented players continue to progress after grassroots and school competitions, FAM will organise annual national-level tournaments for outstanding players.
According to the roadmap, the tournaments are intended to establish a sustainable pathway for players to progress to clubs and eventually the national team.
