With the Easter holidays fast approaching, Town's Football in the Community Department is approaching one of it's busiest periods.
Town's Football in the Community Department is one of the fastest growing sections of the Football Club and is now the largest provider of fun-based football coaching in the Kirklees, Wakefield and Calderdale areas.
Officially affiliated with the Club as well as the Football Association and the Professional Footballers' Association, FITC is a non-profit making organisation and a registered charity and reaches over 40,000 children annually.
The ethos of Town's FITC department can be broken down into the following categories:
WORK IN SCHOOLS
Working in local primary and secondary schools is the main area for Town's FITC department. We aim to provide one coach for every 16 children at the courses, where the emphasis is on fun, maximum participation and enjoyment!
Top class coaching is regularly delivered to hundreds of children and Town's first-team players regularly attend to pass on tips!
As a charter standard provider, Football in the Community's staff are all fully qualified level two coaches and are all CRB checked. Our coaches are also A.O.T.T trained (Adults Other Than Teachers) to give them experience at working with children and are all qualified in First Aid.
Each of the sessions fulfils the four strands of the national curriculum for P.E:
- acquiring and developing skills
- selecting and applying skills, tactics and compositional ideas
- providing a knowledge and understanding
- evaluating and improving performance
If any exceptional talent is spotted during a course, he will be recommended to and offered coaching at a Huddersfield Town Development Centre!
All coaching clinics are covered by Public Liability and have been awarded the FA Standard Charter Kite as well as the Football League Bronze and Silver Standard.
Taster Sessions to New Schools
Town's Football in the Community Department are now offering taster sessions to new schools which compromises free in-school coaching and a sponsored penalty shootout - which is the best fundraising event for schools.
Money raised from sponsored penalty shootouts will be divided 50/50 between the school and Football in the Community. Prizes for the shootout include certificates (£10), a Huddersfield Town match voucher (£10-£30), a Huddersfield Town ball (£30-£50) and a Huddersfield Town replica shirt (£50 - large only).
Bespoke coaching packages are also available, with available packages including health and fitness, sensible eating, sensible exercise, how to get the best out of your body, speed and ability training, developing motor abilities, balance work and training on the co-ordination of body movement.
Coaching clinics are run at the Zone from 4pm until 5pm over a ten week block - please call Nigel on 01484 484189 for further details.
Prices for courses are as follows:
One day course - £12 if booked in advance, £15 for 'pay on the day'
Two day course - £24 if booked in advance, £30 for 'pay on the day'
The course schedule is as follows:
- Tuesdays 5 - 7 year olds
- Thursdays 8 - 10 year olds
- Fridays 11 - 13 year olds
Saturday Soccer Schools at the Zone
These courses are run every Saturday morning, unless advertised otherwise, priced at £3 per head per session. Admission to these courses is on a first come, first served basis with a maximum of 40 per session.
Schedule:
9am to 10:15am - 5 to 7 year olds
10:15am to 11:30am - 8 to 10 year olds
11:30am to 12:45pm - 11 to 13 year olds
OTHER WORK AT THE ZONE
We also offer dance, cheerleading, gymnastics, athletics, multi-sports and multi-skills classes - for more information on these call Zoe Prince at the Zone on 01484 484163.
HEALTH
Health issues are now integral to Town's community scheme and the FITC department gets support from local health authorities and includes fitness sessions as part of its work in schools.
EDUCATION
The Football in the Community schemes are now linked to education initiatives such as the PFA's own education department and the 'learning through football' centres.
SOCIAL INCLUSION
Football is a great tool to include 'hard to reach' groups, particularly in deprived areas. Football in the Community has had great success in delivering anti-drugs messages during its courses.
ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN
FITC firmly support the Football League's 'Kick it Out' campaign as well as the 'Show Racism the Red Card' initiative. A mainstay of the Football in the Community ethos is to break down all barriers of prejudice - everyone is welcome at our courses.
DISABILITIES
Our community schemes offer everyone an opportunity to participate.
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Girls are allowed at all of our courses and some courses may be run as 'girls-only' - check the website for more detailed information on courses.
CHILD PROTECTION
All Football in the Community staff are encouraged to be CRB checked and regularly attend the FA's Child Protection workshops. Staff constantly trade 'best practise' and you can be assured that your child is in good hands at one of the courses.
DELIVERING OTHER PROJECTS
The Football in the Community scheme has also helped the Club to deliver anti-smoking messages and generally promotes a positive lifestyle through grassroots football. The department wholly backs the 'Keep your eye on the ball' campaign promoting awareness of testicular cancer as well as campaigns on other health issues.
Who should you contact to get involved with Football in the Community?
Town's Community Officer is Nigel Thewlis - he can be contacted on 01484 484189 or by emailing nigel.thezone@btconnect.com.
Town's FITC Department also has five regional managers and five assistant regional managers to better cater for your individual needs.
Halifax - Rob Day - 07990 985723
Newsome - Chris Sansom - 07986 042018
Spen Valley - James Hardy - 07900 433857
Wakefield - Michael Blyth - 07929 826297
Holmfirth - Jonny Morgan - 07868 705867
In-school coaching can be booked all year round, with other coaching courses based at the Zone on St. Andrews Road, Huddersfield being run during half-term and other school holidays.
How much does it cost?
In-curricular schools coaching costs only £10 an hour with teacher support. PPA cover is priced at £20 an hour.
Our after-schools clubs cost at £2.50 an hour per head per session (minimum of 12 and maximum of 16 children required).
Hiring one of the FITC coaches costs £20 per hour (subject to availability).
More information about Town's Football in the Community Department can be found at www.thezone.uk.com.
