East Ayrshire towns’ sporting opportunities inspires young people

In recent years, East Ayrshire has been given the tagline of a deprived area. Although there has been a notable lack of funding within one of the town’s inside this local authority, Cumnock there are still opportunities for the community, for example; in sport. Initiatives such as; School of Football (SFA/SoF) and Active Schools have encouraged people to be more involved.

After speaking to SFA School of Football coaches Jack Hannah and Keir Samson it is evident that the opportunities youngsters receive through this programme improves their abilities to perform better both on the pitch and in the classroom in their academic education.

Both coaches seemed extremely certain that their main priority is player development as they have a schedule for each period that they take a session, for example: on a Monday the pupils enter the School of Football classroom to receive a prepared presentation on various aspects such as nutrition, watch clips from the

top players and analyse how they play their own game or participate in activities like fantasy football. On a Tuesday, the coaches could prepare a session on passing. As a key skill in the game the coaches make sure that the pupils’ enjoy their training however are learning the skill. On a Wednesday the pupils don’t receive any sessions therefore they return to their academic classes. On a Thursday the pupils will work on attacking strategies like a 3v2 scenario or work on when entering the

 

 

final third of the pitch. On a Friday the pupils receive a double period and work on shooting for the first period then play different types of conditioned games for the second period. Both coaches agreed that it is important to make sure the pupils enjoy participating however their job is to develop their abilities. They said “It is important for them to play various types of games on a Friday so that they are consuming all that they have learned through the week into a game which will make them more confident when performing each aspect of the game.”

A scheme which is brought to the community through East Ayrshire Council is Active Schools. Active Schools is all about increasing participation and providing opportunities through sport. It is a scheme which is not funded and I caught up with one of the

ambassadors, Scott Guy, he informed me that he is increasing his network of volunteers, from teachers, students etc. and has to build a sustainable network of volunteers. The main aim of Active Schools is to give children an experience of different ports and if they enjoy it then Scott, or any of the other ambassadors will signpost them to a local or nearest club. Active Schools’ other main aims are participation, leadership, volunteering and employment opportunities. Scott gives 20+ sessions in schools every week. He has started a girls football community through the back of those sessions, as well as gymnastics and netball clubs so there is 130 girls participating at club level every week. Leadership opportunities are given for senior pupils which provides them with coach education courses for them and gives them opportunities at schools and in the wider community which gives them a really good chance for future employment. Jack Hannah and Keir Samson, as well as other former School of Football graduates who attended Cumnock Academy are classed as level 4 coaches and are employed by Kilmarnock FC and although they are receiving money for employment, they still choose to volunteer in the community. There is also a sports calendar where schools in the area compete competitively against one another. When asked how the School of Football develops kids, Scott said “School of Football is all about developing the person and giving them life lessons through sport, for example discipline and respect. Former SoF graduates have used these skills to achieve their employment.”