National Children’s Football Week acts as a reminder to parents, guardians, carers, facilitators, coaches, teachers and volunteers, that the children’s game does not have to branded, expensive, associated or dominated by adults. It is a simple game when played by children. It is a fun game owned by children. There is little room for the rules of a game that determines greed, aggression and win at all costs. It is time we reclaimed the children’s game.
Liverpool Celebrate National Children’s Football Week
Kings Hill F.C. host FREE v FREE
Wyvern SEN School Free v Free Week
As I work at a special needs school I know how difficult it can be for students to access football activities outside of school hours, so as part of the NCFA Free v Free we held a week of football during the school day from 12th to 20th July, before the school year ended. All the children were invited to take part and time was made for a series of games to be played each day on the playground and school field. Students from sixth form helped out organise the teams and matches. Although the school has a football field with goals, we also played some games where goals were made up from jumpers and coats and there weren’t any side lines or coned areas. The youngsters who have some mobility difficulties playing on grass took part in some fun games in the school MUGA and then took part in a penalty shoot out against the teachers. On the last day of the Free v Free School week the juniors organised their own game, picked the sides and played without any adult instruction, cheered on by teachers and teaching assistants. The event overall was a very enjoyable experience for all those who took part during the week of fun football.
Although Kent now has one of the largest Pan-disability football leagues in the country, many youngsters with SEN/disabilities are still not able to access football simply because of travel restrictions and distance from venues where SEN/Disability league football is played. At Wyvern SEN School we hold a weekly after school football club, but for students who live some distance from the school who use school transport, if parents/carers are unable to pick their children up afterwards, then they are not able take part. Events such as the NCFA Free v Free Week of Football offers children of all abilities the opportunity to play football for free, which is how the game should be played.
David Ramzan, NCFA SEN Officer.
IF YOU, YOUR SCHOOL, CLUB OR TEAM WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN FREE v FREE 2018 contact us at: info@thecfa.co.uk