Bank of Scotland - secondary schools football initiative

Contents

• Project outline
• Training programme
• Session structure
  • Football specific technical themes
  • Generic themes
  • Sample curriculum
• Matches programme
• Roles and responsibilities
  • Schools
  • Monitoring and evaluation
• Secondary school league - rules and guidelines
• League programme 2006-2007
• Match fixtures
  • North
  • South
  • East and West

Project outline

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) via the new youth action plan is working closely with various partners to develop and improve football opportunities for young people of school age. This project, which is backed by the Bank of Scotland, aims to support the development of these opportunities at secondary school level for boys at first year and for girls at first to third year.

The principle aim of the programme is to encourage more young people to engage in sport through football by attracting new players into the game and thus creating new teams.

A "pilot" programme of training and matches has been designed in conjunction with key partners for schools to participate in during the year 2006-2007, with a view to a more sustainable programme being offered for a further three years thereafter.

To enhance existing provision, which is currently available via the "Lanarkshire Schools Football Association", schools are being encouraged to develop new teams at both boys and girls levels.

Training programme

A 20-hour training programme will be provided to schools during the year for both boys and girls. North Lanarkshire Council football coaching staff will be appointed to each school to deliver a 20-week programme as follows:

• One boy's and one girl's coach will be appointed to deliver a 20-week training programme at no cost to the school. Appointed coaches will be paid via North Lanarkshire Council with support from SFA and Bank of Scotland.
• The appointed coach will work on a recommended ratio of one coach: 30 players. In order to assist the appointed coach and where demand for coaching sessions is greater it will be a requirement for the school to identify additional coaching staff from teachers, volunteers and S5/6 pupils to assist.
• Training programme is to be delivered Monday to Friday either at lunch-time or after school on an allotted day of the week.

Training sessions

• Boys and girls groups will operate separately, although sessions may be programmed to take place on the same day.
• Schools will provide a suitable training area for the sessions to take place ie grass or artificial football pitch area where available.
• Appointed volunteer coaches and S5/6 pupils will be offered the opportunity to attend SFA coach education courses and curriculum in-service sessions at no cost. Coaches will be offered the opportunity to attend up to SFA level three.
• S5/6 pupils will be offered the chance to attend a referee training programme.

The coaching curriculum will be designed, taking the long term athlete development framework developed by the SFA and Sportscotland into consideration.

For further information please use the "Contact Us" box at the right hand side of the page. 

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