The Academy launches the Tesco Bank Football Challenge in South Ayrshire
The Tesco Bank Football Challenge is a four-year community programme run in partnership with the Scottish FA. The programme will use the power of football to get Primary 2 and Primary 3 children (6-8 years old) active, not only at school but by establishing long-lasting activity week in, week out.
The aim is to engage 72,000 boys and girls of all levels and abilities in, at least, 1600 primary schools across Scotland in half a million coaching hours.
The Academy is delighted to have been selected to manage the programme in South Ayrshire, as the project gives us a chance to go into 9 Primary Schools in the Troon and Prestwick area and work with the Primary 2 pupils. One of the main objectives is to introduce football to the school children to encourage them to become involved in the game. The project involves our Community Coaches going into the Primary schools offering them a six week coaching block working on various football skills and helping to introduce the fun factor of football to the youngsters. It also helps them to remain active and to stay fit and healthy. We are currently in our first week and so far the feedback from the kids and teachers has been excellent.
Community Coach Craig Richmond has been coaching at four of the schools who are taking part in the Tesco Bank project and says:
“The four schools that I have been in have all been great. The kids are well behaved, very enthusiastic and are keen to participate in the game of football. The Tesco Bank programme is great because I get to coach at these schools and see firsthand how well the kids at P2 level react to football.”
