The Youth Resources and Sports Department, Government of Nagaland has been conferred the prestigious SKOCH Silver Award for its initiative, the Grassroots Football Festival (Baby League), in recognition of its efforts towards promoting grassroots sports development and encouraging sporting participation among children in the State.
The SKOCH Award is a nationally recognised award that honours excellence in governance, innovation and public service delivery. It recognises institutions and organisations for implementing impactful initiatives that contribute to socio-economic development. The conferment of the SKOCH Silver Award is a significant achievement for the Department, bringing national recognition to its efforts in strengthening grassroots sports development in Nagaland.
Launched in June 2024, the Grassroots Football Festival (Baby League) is an annual initiative of the Department aimed at introducing children to football at an early age and fostering a sporting culture at the grassroots level. The programme provides a platform for children aged 5 to 12 years to participate in organised football activities in a fun, engaging and inclusive environment.
Unlike conventional competitive tournaments, the Baby League places emphasis on participation, enjoyment, learning and the overall development of children. The festival features age-appropriate, small-sided football matches across four age categories: 5–6 years, 7–8 years, 9–10 years and 11–12 years. The initiative also provides opportunities for coaches to observe young players, identify emerging talent and encourage their continued involvement in sports.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Since its inception, the programme has witnessed encouraging growth in participation and public response. From approximately 142 children in its earlier edition, participation has increased to around 420 children in the third edition held in 2026. The growing involvement of children, parents and the sporting community reflects the increasing interest in grassroots football and the positive response to the initiative.
The initiative also received national appreciation when the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, highlighted Nagaland’s grassroots football efforts during his Mann Ki Baat address in June 2026, acknowledging the importance of encouraging sports participation among young children.
The SKOCH Silver Award marks an important milestone for the Department and serves as an encouragement to further strengthen initiatives aimed at making sports accessible to children across the State. The Department remains committed to building upon the success of the Baby League and strengthening opportunities for children to participate in organized sporting activities, with the larger objective of promoting a strong and inclusive sporting culture in Nagaland.
