What are the Projects Aims?
- Increased opportunities for both volunteers and players
- Individual and community wide health benefits
- Improved retention in football beyond/outside of school, through positive experience
- Improved performance levels
- Extended opportunities for socialisation, self development and teamwork
- Raise school/club profile within community
- Increased membership and volunteer base
Who is the Target Group?
- Young people aged 5-16 years of age
- Children who want to join a football team
- Players who maybe less likely to be participating in football for their schools
- Areas with more limited opportunities
Why Create Links With Schools?
- Access to facilities
- Recruitment of new players
- Gain better understanding of your players
- Better use of equipment
- Share skills and expertise
- Help retain players at your club
- Support the school to deliver curriculum
- More chance to work with your players
- Help schools promote healthy, active lifestyle
ERCFA School Club Links Programme 2010
Invites were sent out to all Charter Standard clubs in late 2009 for the 2010 programme. Each club was asked to send back an expression of interest form if they wanted to be a part of the 2010 programme. A large number of responses came back and ten clubs were selected to take part based upon the target age group and gender they highlighted in their expression of interest form and previous funding some clubs had accessed through the Football Foundation.
The ERCFA was able to provide funding to support ten clubs through the 2010 programme to contribute towards the costs of coaching fees, facility hire, equipment and promotional material.
The ten clubs that have been selected for the 2010 programme will run weekly coaching sessions in schools for a selected period of time. Throughout the coaching sessions they run, clubs will promote and advertise their club to try and encourage the children they are working with to join their club.
See the related documents for an example of how a School- Club Links Programme may be structured.
Applications for the 2011 School- Club link programme will begin in late 2010.
For further information on the FA School- Club Links Programme please contact Jack Matthews on 01482 221158 or via email on jack.matthews@eastridingfa.com