On July 1st 2007 Leon School and Sports College (approved 1st 4 Sport Centre) travelled to The Linda High School, Livingstone, Zambia to deliver an overseas Level One Football course. The course was fully approved and supported by FA Learning and supported with coaching equipment by the FA and Berks and Bucks FA Football Development department.
The visit was the second time staff members from Leon School and Sports College have travelled to Zambia as part of the Youth Sports Trust Dreams and Teams project. In February 2007 during the initial visit it was identified that a dual school and community coaching course would provide sustainability and develop long term team coaching methods and strategies.
The five day course was delivered at Linda High School, Livingstone in one of the many classrooms. The workshops took place with chalk and board diagrams due to the lack of electricity and ICT facilities. The practical sessions took place on the grassless, non marked and stony pitches located in the heart of the community. Twelve school students and twelve community coaches took the thirty guided learning hour course which started at 8am every day.
On day one the coaches took sessions in small groups, focused on warm up styles and coaching styles. During the week the coaches worked with more and more players to develop their confidence and understand about positive feedback and evaluation techniques. The group also really enjoyed understanding about player analysis and long term development as many of them coach in the local academies.
Leon School and Sports College also took two post sixteen students to support the course, interact with Zambian students and experience local culture. Shaun Cressy made the following comment regarding his experience in Zambia: “It was a life changing journey and I am glad that I was able to help and educate sports coaches”
The first aid aspect of the course was delivered by the local Red Cross representatives and all students completed the child protection worksheets with the support of the Zambian coaches association. At the start of the week it was clear that Zambian coaching involved a lot of straight line drills and numerous instructions. All coaches developed their individual coaching style by using the Level One games as part of the course syllabus.
Daniel Bayliss the second Leon School and Sports College student made the following comment: “It was clear to see that with the help of the coaching course, all local coaches improved and were enthused by the new ideas and course content”. The course finished with a celebration evening, local cultural dancing and presentations. The Linda High School Head teacher is delighted that the course will enable better coaching standards and physical education throughout the school and community.
All coaches who completed the course are to volunteer their time with coaching hours in return for the accreditation. The Youth Sports trust Dreams and Teams project will continue between Leon School and Sports College and The Linda High School with geography and art links made in year three of the initial programme.
Leon School and Sports College would like to thank FA learning, The FA, 1st 4Sport Qualifications, The Media Group and The Linda High School for their support in regards to running the coaching course.
