The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is committed to developing young talented players through their Emerging Talent Programme (ETP). The FAI ETP is an integrated and structured coaching and development programme for the most talented young Irish players. Through collaboration with parents, coaches, clubs, and leagues this programme is designed to facilitate young players to achieve their potential with an emphasis on making it an enjoyable and safe player experience.

Currently the Longford District Schoolboy Schoolgirl League (LDSSL) facilitates Emerging Talent Programmes for boys at the U12, U13 and U15 and for girls at the U13 and U15 age groups. Players are invited to attend open assessments each year, players selected from the assessment process will form a squad that take part in a 30 week programme from early October until May. Qualified ETP coaches follow a syllabus that is supported by the Longford FAI Development Officer, Graham Kane. Squads will take part in SFAI Inter League Tournaments for appropriate age groups, Kennedy Cup and Gaynor Cup. LDSSL have players from many clubs around Longford taking part in their Emerging Talent Programme. Talented players identified at the League ETP can be put forward for elevated training at a Regional Centre of Excellence (COE) and have been selected to attend and train at the Regional COE at Athlone Town Stadium.