SSFL Returns: STAIRS Relaunches India’s Legacy School Football League as a National Football Scouting Program (2026); International Footballer & Mental Conditioning Mentor David Forde Joins the Mission

New Delhi | 13 th March, 2026: The STAIRS Foundation (The Society for Transformation, Inclusion, and Recognition through Sports), a National Sports Promotion Organisation (NSPO) recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, today announced the relaunch of the STAIRS School Football League (SSFL) as a National Football Scouting Program 2026, with international footballer and former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper and David Forde joining the mission to help strengthen scouting standards and talent identification across India. 

The STAIRS School Football League is the relaunch of STAIRS’ flagship school football initiative—now positioned as a National Football Scouting Program for 2026. It is designed to identify and promote football talent across India through open trials, structured scouting, and a national final camp, covering 10 states during March–April 2026. This initiative is built around one simple belief: talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. The program aims to create a credible, repeatable pathway for talented players—especially those from low-income families—to be discovered, trained, and connected to the right platforms, with free participation support available for deserving players from low-income families. 

“Relaunching SSFL is a proud moment for STAIRS. SSFL is a legendary grassroots program that helped shape India’s school football and talent-scouting narrative, and in 2026 we are bringing it back with a sharper purpose—10 states, merit-based evaluation, and a clear, predictable pathway from state trials to the national finals.” said Siddhartha Upadhyay, Founder & President, STAIRS Foundation. “I’m especially happy to welcome David Forde to this mission. His international exposure and focus on mental toughness and competitive discipline will add immense value—helping us train scouts, raise evaluation standards, and prepare young players for what the next level demands.” 

David Forde Former Republic of Ireland International Goalkeeper | Founder, Pathfinder Coaching & Development added, “Indian football has exciting emerging talent, and what makes the difference is a system that finds it early and supports it the right way. I’m genuinely happy to join STAIRS and SSFL in building a scouting framework where players are assessed consistently and given a fair opportunity to progress. Along with performance, young athletes also need the right mindset, discipline, and everyday habits to handle competitive environments. SSFL’s intent to connect grassroots players to real next steps—academies, clubs, and education-linked opportunities—is exactly the kind of pathway young players need.” 

Program Structure (SSFL 2026) 

SSFL 2026 will run in two phases. Phase 1 will feature open state trials across 10 states, with 2–3 trial events per state, leading to the formation of state squads. Phase 2 will culminate in a National Final Camp, where state squads compete and players are evaluated through match-based scouting for next-stage opportunities. The program will create credible progression routes for shortlisted players into STAIRS Football Academy programs and external options including clubs, academies and university-linked opportunities (as applicable).

RASHTRIYA KHEL PROTSAHAN PURUSKAR K1/12, Level 1-3, CR Park www.stairs.org.in Delhi – 110019, +91-11- 40586518 

 Inaugural Category (2026) 

The inaugural relaunch edition will feature Boys U-17 (Born between 2010-2013). STAIRS will progressively expand SSFL in future editions to include U-8 to U-17 for boys and girls, building a wider, long-term grassroots talent pipeline. 

Trial Camps & Dates (March–April 2026) 

National Camp 

The SSFL National Camp is scheduled to take place in Anand, Gujarat, from 7th to 11th April 2026.