What is PAFC?

The Panhellenic Association of Futsal Coaches (abbr. "P.A.F.C.") was founded on 9 July 2020 in Neo Psychiko, Attica, by 34 founding members — futsal coaches. It was recognised by Decision No. 30/24-8-2020 of the Magistrate's Court of Chalandri, Attica, and registered with the Athens Court of First Instance on 6 October 2020, receiving association registration number 33026.

It is a non-profit legal entity under private law, in the form of an association under the Civil Code, headquartered in Neo Psychiko, Attica. It is the exclusive trade-union body for futsal coaches (men and women) in Greece, representing every futsal coach legally working in the country and recognised as a coach under the regulatory provisions of EPO, UEFA, FIFA and the General Secretariat for Sports.

Purpose

The purpose of the Panhellenic Association of Futsal Coaches (P.A.F.C.) is:

1) To unite all futsal coaches (men and women) of the country in a single structure and organisation, to protect their moral, financial and social interests in the practice of coaching futsal in all its forms, as regulated by EPO, EPSS, UEFA and FIFA.

2) More specifically, the purposes of P.A.F.C. are:

a) The institutional safeguarding and securing of professional rights and the protection of all interests of futsal coaches in Greece in their workplaces — athletic clubs with futsal departments that are members of EPSS or of the football associations members of EPO, and of professional football companies (PAEs).

b) Cooperation of P.A.F.C. with EPO, UEFA, FIFA and foreign football and futsal federations for the scientific and technical training and development of futsal coaches who are members of P.A.F.C., and the monitoring of the evolution of coaching in futsal in Greece and the international community in line with EPO – UEFA – FIFA regulations.

c) Strengthening relations between its members and cultivating sports ideals, in line with sportsmanship and the P.A.F.C. code of ethics.

d) Contribution to the social, economic and cultural life of the country and to the intellectual and social elevation of futsal coaches.

3) Establishing the profession of futsal coach and protecting members' interests. Defending coaches' trade-union freedoms. Moral, legal and union support for prosecuted members.

4a) Monitoring the financial and social issues of the sector and, by every legal means, claiming the rights of futsal coaches and addressing their problems.

b) Contributing to the elimination of exploitation of colleagues, and the prevention of discrimination and division among them. A general contribution against all forms of discrimination, such as racism, chauvinism, fascism and sexism.

5) Cooperation with similar bodies in Greece and abroad, exchange of views and development of partnerships for the dissemination of coaching in futsal.

6) Respect for and prevention of any violation of the Statute and Regulations, Codes, decisions and instructions of P.A.F.C., as well as of EPO, EPSS, FIFA and UEFA — ensuring that all of the above are respected by, and that members comply with, them.

7) Contribution by every legal and appropriate means (e.g. proposals, circulars, public statements, scientific research, articles, etc.) to the development of futsal in Greece.

8) Cooperation with every educational body — universities in Greece and abroad, private schools in Greece and abroad, as well as the General Secretariat for Sports and the Ministry of Education — with a view to the evolution, development and improvement of futsal coaching.

9) The Association may promote scientific research on subjects relating to its field of activity and participate in funded research programmes in cooperation with other public or private bodies.

Action

P.A.F.C. has developed intense activity (including an online seminar on 10 April 2023 with Italian coach Nino Anthony Rinaldi as keynote speaker on defensive shape against a 5th-player attack) and its greatest achievement to date is its major contribution to the recognition of the UEFA B FUTSAL coaching diploma by the General Secretariat for Sports — enabling its holders to declare exercise of the profession and then work properly and legally with clubs cultivating this sport. P.A.F.C.'s goal in the coming years is to gradually develop full and continuous activity across every aspect of its purpose.