The association was founded on 17th October 1931 at a meeting of district associations in the IFA Offices. The present structure has evolved over the years from the earliest recorded pre-war Schools’ Football Associations.
These were:-
- 1924 BELFAST S.F.A.
- 1928 COLERAINE S.F.A.
- 1928 N.I. DAY TECH. S.S.A.
- 1932 EAST ANTRIM S.F.A.
- 1936 MID-ULSTER S.F.A.
- 1936 LISBURN S.F.A.
The aims of the Association are:-
- The mental, moral and physical development and improvement of school pupils through the medium of association football.
- To help such charities and other charitable purposes as the Association may decide.
- To promote and encourage the development of Schools’ Football at various levels both nationally and internationally.
Currently 19 district associations are affiliated to the Northern Ireland Schools’ Football Association. The association promotes competitions for schools at under 11, under 12. under 14, under 16 and under 18 as well as an inter-district competition.