Strengthening Grassroots & Community Sports Development in Saudi Arabia
A nationwide grassroots and community sports development framework was designed to create a structured, inclusive, and scalable participation ecosystem. The solution focused on establishing consistent community leagues, standardized coaching programs, and clear development pathways linking grassroots participation to higher levels of competition. Emphasis was placed on inclusivity, ensuring opportunities for youth, women, and underserved groups. Digital tools were integrated to manage registrations, track participation, and monitor athlete progression. The framework aligned community engagement with national sports objectives, ensuring sustainability beyond short-term programs.
The engagement adopted a community-centered implementation approach:
- Conducted regional assessments to identify participation gaps and local needs
- Designed structured grassroots leagues with age-appropriate competition formats
- Developed coach education and certification pathways for community programs
- Integrated school-based sports initiatives with community leagues
- Introduced inclusive participation programs for youth and women
- Deployed digital platforms for registration, scheduling, and tracking
- Established monitoring systems to evaluate participation and retention
This approach ensured consistent delivery across regions.
The following recommendations were provided to strengthen long-term impact:
- Expand grassroots sports hubs in underserved regions
- Introduce nationwide youth league calendars
- Increase investment in coach development and retention
- Strengthen school–community–academy integration
- Promote family and local community involvement
- Use participation data to guide policy and funding decisions
These actions aimed to embed grassroots sports into everyday community life.
The engagement generated strong social and developmental returns. Youth participation increased by approximately 35–45% across targeted regions, while program retention rates improved by 20–25%. Early talent identification increased, creating a clearer pipeline into academies and competitive programs. Community engagement strengthened significantly, supporting healthier lifestyles and social cohesion. Improved program coordination reduced duplication of efforts, increasing cost efficiency by approximately 15% and ensuring sustainable long-term impact for grassroots sports development.
