PLAYING FOOTBALL IN SCHOOLS

If you are looking for ideas for after school activities why not run a football club? Football is great for focusing on team skills and is suitable for everyone not matter what their ability.   Apart from schools such as dribbling, passing and kicking, football also teaches younger children the importance of concentration and the need to share, since football is a team rather than individual activity.

Football can be used to bring those that our lacking in confidence out of their shells and is also great for installing the importance of rules and discipline.

The Importance of Teamwork

Specially designed football team shirts can be used to install a sense of pride and belonging in the football team.  When they are wearing their football team shirts children will learn to recognize that they are no longer individuals but rather a uniformed group which works together as a team.  The use of a football team shirt has found to be particularly unifying when different age groups are playing as it reminds them that rather than from being from different classes they are from one whole.

Competitiveness

Although it is almost inevitable that there will be a certain amount of competitiveness, teaching children to win and lose gracefully will equip them with skills which can be applied to their adult life.  

In terms of health benefits, playing football can help to create a positive attitude to physical exercise by showing that exercise can be fun.  Other benefits include:-

            Improving foot/eye co-ordination

            Feeling good about themselves

            Developing a sense of belonging

            Being able to concentrate better on their schoolwork

            Maintaining a healthy weight

            Being able to sleep better

Involve the Dads (or Mums)

Sometimes Dads, or even mums can be roped into assisting with football training.  They will need to be DBS checked, but what better way to promote community participation than to get the parents involved?  Children love it when parents join in and it can be a way of breaking down barriers.

Improving Self-Esteem

Since football is about participation rather than the success of individual’s children usually enjoy it much more than sports which are focused on their own level of achievement.  Comparing yourself to others can be quite destructive at times if you are not very good at something but in football success is due to the team rather than an individual’s performance.   This can be enhanced by the use of a football team shirt.   Having a sense of belonging can do wonders for self-esteem and the overall enjoyment of the game.