The FA Tesco Skills Programme

 

Local children from Staffordshire are being given free, top quality, football skills coaching thanks to an FA initiative aimed at raising technical standards amongst boys and girls aged 5-11 year olds. The FA Tesco Skills Programme, which was launched in the summer of 2007, aims to help children get active through specialist youth football coaching.

 

The nationwide programme, co-ordinated by The FA and funded by Tesco and Sport England, has recently celebrated the fantastic milestone of reaching its target of providing one million children in England with top-quality skills coaching by the summer of 2010 a year early. One of the major reasons behind its success has been the focus on improving children's social skills including their ability to work as part of a team, solve problems and build confidence whatever their ability.

 

A total of 90, full time, specialist Skills Coaches are focusing on raising technical standards among the 5-11 age group, when ball skills are ingrained, throughout 18 counties in England. The specialist Staffordshire Skills Coaches, who are headed by team leader Steve Pritchard, the 2007 Grassroots Coach of the Year, Jenna Martin, Andy Baker and also include new recruit, Doncaster Rovers Belles defender Emily Simpkins. The team of Skills Coaches are fully qualified and have completed an official FA age appropriate skills coaching course.

 

The Skills Coaches run after school FA Skills Centres throughout Staffordshire, where they will be training local 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 details of the FA Skills Centres available in Staffordshire, as well as coaching videos, football tips and fun games, 5-11 year olds should go to http://www.fa-tesco-skills.co.uk/signup/step-1. 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

 

 

Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA Director of Football Development commented: “The FA Tesco Skills Programme has been a resounding success since its launch in 2007 and has helped us enthuse over a million youngsters, helping them get active, enjoy football and become better players too. Tesco’s commitment, along with that of Sport England, has enabled us to provide high quality coaching to children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to the calibre of Skills Coaches we have up and down the country.”

 

David Potts, Tesco Retail Director, said: “The FA Tesco Skills Programme is a really good opportunity for all five to 11 year old boys and girls to become fit and active while playing football and having fun.”

 

“Tesco is delighted to be involved and to give so many children such a fantastic opportunity. We know that FA Tesco Skills is a truly memorable experience, building boys' and girls' self esteem and confidence just as much as their football skills.”

 

FA Tesco Skills Centres are currently available at the following venues:

 

 

Steve Pritchard
FA Tesco Skills Team Leader for Staffordshire
T: 07538 101 370
E: Stevefootball75@hotmail.com