Local children from Durham are being given free qualified football skills coaching thanks to an FA initiative aimed at raising technical standards amongst 5-11 year olds. The FA Tesco Skills Programme, a programme co-ordinated by The FA and funded by Tesco and the National Sports Foundation, initially aimed to give one million children in England top-quality skills coaching by summer 2010. With over 1.7 million taking part by now, the programme has been extended a further 4 years.
A total of 116, full time, specialist skills coaches focus on raising technical standards amongst the 5-11 age group, when ball skills are ingrained, throughout 25 counties in England. The Durham coaches, who have been coaching in the area for 3 years have been busy providing free coaching to hundreds of children at 3 venues in the county over the first 2 weeks of the school holidays. Chopwell Pioneer Centre in Gateshead, Soccarena in Durham City and Northfied Sports College in Billingham were selected to cover the North, Middle and South of the county. The events were a huge success, with children having fun, learning new skills and making new friends. Those who were interested in playing more football were signposted towards local Charter Standard Clubs and the FA Skills centres in the area.
At these FA Skills centres the coaches train boys and girls using world leading coaching techniques, so that young players can be inspired to get active and maximise football skills, whatever their ability.
For coaching videos, football tips and fun games 5-11 year olds can sign up at www.TheFA.com/Skills. Parents, teachers and local football clubs can help children progress by supporting them through specially designed football Skills Challenges which are available on the site.
An ambassador for the programme, England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said: “The importance of good grassroots training for children cannot be underestimated. I remember practising my skills over and over as a youngster and that has helped me reach the top. Whatever your ability, the Skills Programme will help make you a better player.”
Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA Director of Football Development commented: “At the elite end of the game, there is concern over the skill gap between English youngsters and their European counterparts, which has an obvious impact of our future success as a football nation.
“At grassroots level, the skills programme will enable us to begin the challenge of raising the technical bar in English football at the key 5-11 year-old developmental stage. It is also about providing specialist, quality coaching to give young players an enjoyable, stimulating environment to maximise their ability.”
Sir Terry Leahy, CEO of Tesco, the programme’s sponsor, commented: “Being a massive football fan myself I am delighted that we are working with The FA at a local community level. The scheme will encourage kids to get active, have fun and enjoy football, and the great thing is that both boys and girls at any level will be able to get involved.
For further details on the programme, please visit www.TheFA.com/Skills