The aim was to include as many pupils as possible from a number of Special Schools and Special Educational Needs units in the county. The day was organised by Cornwall FA and the Schools Competition Managers.
Cornwall FA coaches invited pupils to take part in a variety of skills challenges in the morning session and encouraged everyone to have a go. Many of the young players were able to show their abilities in these skills challenges
After lunch, the participants played in a number of small-sided games. Warren Parker, Cornwall FA's Disability Football Development Officer said, " The day went perfectly and I was pleased with the enthusiasm of the participating players. A special thank you to Richard Higginson, Headmaster at Newquay Tretherras School, who allowed the use of the facility and encouraged a group of Young Leaders to participate within the event."
The day helped pupils to see what was on offer and some of the schools will be able to hold their own sessions led by Cornwall FA coaches in the future
Schools can also compete in the Ability Counts League for Cornwall.
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Ability Counts League Tournament
Sunday 18th October 2009 saw the first Cornish Leg of the Devon and Cornwall Abilities Counts League held in Bodmin.
Teams from Trevenson (adult), St Agnes AFC and Bodmin Dragons Youth were joined players from teams in Devon. Ties were played in a 5-a-side format.
St Agnes’ team coach Anita Gittins said," I am so proud of all our boys today. They all played with big smiles on their faces and enjoyed every kick of the ball".
Player Ollie said, "I have enjoyed today - it was really good. I hope we can do it again soon."
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Adult
There will be a league in Cornwall from the 2010-2011 season. Please see the link on the right for more details.
New opportunities to play are being created at the Phoenix Leisure Centre in Launceston and the John Daniel Centre in Penzance. It's expected that more than 20 participants will be involved.
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Teams from St Agnes and Trevenson FCs were able to play in a tournament arranged by Cornwall FA.
Mandy Kimmins from St Agnes sent this report:
"Friday 8th May was a really important day for two Cornish Football teams as the St Agnes AFC Disability Team travelled to Trevenson AFC for a Round-Robin Tournament.
Full team strips were donned as St Agnes AFC faced a new competitive opposition side for the first time since they began.
Six matches were played with both clubs winning 2, drawing 2 and losing 2.
Top goal scorer for St Agnes on the day was Peter closely followed by Giles with both Simon and Ollie outstanding in goal!
Half time refreshments consisting of a picnic of drinks and biscuits proved very popular and St Agnes AFC would be delighted to hear from any other coaches or players wishing to join this fulfilling and amazing team of people as they enter the Abilities Counts League next season.
St Agnes AFC presently offer and afternoon training session on a Monday and a Tuesday Evening Summer coaching session. "
The Ability Counts Festival was held at Callington on 26 April 2009 and amongst other things, featured a female coaching session involving 12 women from Devon and Cornwall.
Youth
Cornwall FA coaching sessions started in all four special schools in September 2008. The activity forms part of the player identification process to offer players further development opportunities by creating a network of district coaching centres. These centres will underpin a future county centre of excellence.
The annual special needs festival becomes bi-annual. The latest festival was on Thursday 25th September 2008 at St Blazey FC. In order to make the matches evenly contested, players were banded by ability prior to the festival. The format of the day was coaching sessions delivered by Cornwall FA coaches followed by small-sided games.
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Football Day At School
Disabled footballers in Cornwall got the chance to hone their skills when Newquay Tretherras School opened their 3-G astro facility to players from Cornwall’s 4 special schools.
Resident Football Development Officer Tommy Matthews organised the afternoon in conjunction with the Cornwall FA who themselves have been very pro-active in promoting disability football in the county. Six clubs in Cornwall now have exit routes for players and a league is about to commence soon.
Twenty eight players enjoyed expert coaching from all of Cornwall’s team of FDOs and the players were put through their paces with dribbling, passing, and shooting the theme of the first half of the session. The second half consisted of a round robin tournament where four seven-a-side teams played each other and Tretherras provided a small team of eight sports leaders to help as “team managers”. At the end of an exhausting afternoon the players were all presented with certificates of participation and a medal for their efforts.
Cornwall’s County Development Manager Andy Mitchell said “The players really seemed to enjoy themselves and hopefully we may see a few of them progress into more regular football in the near future”. “It was an excellent opportunity for Newquay Tretherras to make its facility available”, said Richard Higginson, Head of PE “and we’d like to make this a more regular event at the school. “All the players had a fantastic time and the games at the end gave them the chance to play alongside students from other schools and they really entered into the spirit of the afternoon to make it a success”.
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