Grassroots football in Wales is entering a significant period of experimentation, with the Football Association of Wales (FAW) launching a pilot that could reshape the traditional football calendar. After four consecutive winters in which more than 21,800 fixtures were postponed due to adverse weather, the governing body is trialling a shift away from the long-established September-to-May season towards a March-to-November structure.

The FAW initiative—known as Project Chwarae (Project Play)—will initially focus on junior football in selected pilot areas, including the South Wales Women and Girls’ League. The proposed calendar introduces a summer playing season, with a scheduled break in August, aiming to avoid the worst of the winter weather that has increasingly disrupted grassroots football across the UK.

From a participation perspective, the rationale is compelling. Recent FAW data suggests that up to 30% of fixtures have already been postponed this season alone, with the figure rising to nearly half of all matches between November and February in previous years. This aligns with wider climate trends across the UK, where wetter winters have made natural grass pitches less reliable and increased pressure on already limited 3G facilities.

A spokesperson for Team Grassroots said:
“In certain locations in the UK we’re seeing the traditional football calendar more and more impacted by the realities of the grassroots environment. When large volumes of games are lost every winter, it impacts player development, retention and the overall experience. Any initiative that seeks to address that deserves serious attention and we’re keen to see the learning that comes from the trial.”

However, as with any structural change in grassroots sport, the challenges are equally significant. A number of clubs have opted out of the pilot, citing financial and logistical concerns. Summer months are traditionally a crucial period for grassroots clubs to generate income through tournaments and festivals—events that often underpin their financial sustainability for the rest of the year.

“We can’t ignore the economic model many grassroots clubs rely on,” a Team Grassroots spokesperson added.
“Summer tournaments are not just nice-to-have—they are essential revenue streams. Any long-term shift in the calendar would need to account for that and potentially reimagine how clubs generate income.”

There are also participation conflicts to consider. Unlike the winter months, summer brings competition from other sports such as cricket, as well as family holidays and wider community activities. For multi-sport athletes and volunteers—who are the backbone of grassroots football—this could create new pressures rather than alleviate existing ones.

The FAW has been clear that this is an exploratory process. The pilot is voluntary, and multiple models are being tested, including an alternative approach that introduces an extended winter break within the existing structure. Importantly, the governing body is also looking beyond Wales, with the Republic of Ireland already transitioning towards a summer-based football calendar, offering a valuable case study.

From our perspective at Team Grassroots, this is exactly the kind of innovation the game needs—but it must be evidence-led.

“We welcome the FAW’s willingness to test and learn,” our spokesperson continued.
“Grassroots football is evolving rapidly, and decisions of this scale should be grounded in real data from players, coaches and clubs. The key will be balancing participation, player welfare and financial sustainability.”

Ultimately, the success or failure of Project Chwarae will not be judged on theory, but on outcomes. Will more games be played? Will more players stay in the game? And can clubs remain financially viable within a new structure?

These are the questions that matter—and like the wider grassroots community, we’ll be watching closely.