The FA has been selected by the government as one of the seven major sports to deliver strong and effective links between schools and clubs. The Department of Culture Media and Sport in partnership with the Department of Education and Skill have formed a PE, School Sport and Club Links Delivery Plan. The vision is that school to club links should build on the existing physical education and sport opportunities available to young people in schools.
The FA wish to support as many young people as possible to move from a school to an FA Charter Standard Club but recognises that not all young people are initially confident enough to move from their familiar environment, where they participate with their friends and the sessions is delivered by their teacher to an unfamiliar environment led by a coach who is not known by the young person. This programme specifically targets those young people aged 5-16 years who are less likely to be participating in football for their school due to more limited opportunities and help them move into a Charter Standard Club.
The FA School Club Links Scheme (PESSCL) Can Achieve
- • Increased opportunities for participation in football for both players and volunteers
• The individual and community wide health benefits of physically active lifestyles through participating in football
• Improved retention in football participation beyond the school leaving age
• Improved levels of performance for those of all abilities
• Improved club safety including child protection and risk management through the FA Charter Standard programme
• Extended opportunities for socialisation, self-development and team work
• Positive recreational football opportunities for young people outside school
• Increased opportunities for schools to connect with the wider communities in which they are located
• The supply of a vibrant and growing membership and volunteer base for clubs
All Clubs taking part in the School - Club link programme will receive the following from Cornwall FA
- • 10 footballs, 10 bibs, 50 cones, a pump and ball sack
• 1 set of Coaching Resource cards
• 3 Lions FC Guidance Pack
• 3 Lions FC Posters, Flyers and Certificates to promote your scheme
• Professional support from County FDO to identify a suitable school(s) if required to create links with
The Club involved commits to
- • Coach a minimum of eight 3 Lions FC sessions before developing into a general feeder programme within the club
• All coaches must hold professional indemnity &/or personal liability insurance (Part of FA Coaches Association (FACA) membership)
• Complete a police check through the CRB and a personal disclosure form
• Attend a meeting with the FDO to discuss the programme
• Submit a one page action plan detailing activities
• To accord information of attendees and send to County FDO
The scheme brings in around £3,000 of funding to the County. The following clubs and schools in Cornwall are (or have been) working on the latest School-Club Link projects
Ludgvan Lions FC with Ludgvan School
Alverton Athletica FC with St Marys RC (Penzance) School
Falmouth United Youth FC with St Marys RC (Falmouth) School Helston FC with Helston College
Tregorrick Park Youth FC with Sandy Hill and Carlcaze Schools
Bodmin Dragons FC with Bodmin College, Wadebridge College and Newquay Tretherras Schools
Morwenstow FC with Marhamchurch School
Camelford FC with Sir James Smith and Delabole Schools Padstow FC with Padstow School
Saltash United Juniors FC with Burraton and St Stephens Schools
Saltash United Youth are at St Stephens Saltash and Sir Robert Geffreys
Torpoint AFC with Antony and Carbeile Schools
Goonhavern Ladies at St Newlyn East Chacewater and Mount Hawke
Charlestown Youth St Mewan and Charlestown
Holmans at St Meriadoc Juniors and Camborne school
Penzance Ladies at St Buryan and Newlyn
St Agnes Ladies FC and Mithian, Blackwater and St Agnes Schools.
All the clubs have benefited from having an influx of new young footballers that will enable them to develop and sustain their teams and overall football development.
Schools have benefited from the free 6 weeks of qualified coaches delivering the scheme. In addition, the majority of schools have achieved their FA Charter Standard award as well as submitting applications to the Football Foundation for the Junior Kit Scheme which entitles them to £400 free kit and equipment for use in this type of development programme.
More than 300 boys and girls have been involved in Cornwall with some of the coaching provided for girls specifically.
Children receive certificates for taking part and the clubs also receive free kit of balls bibs and cones to deliver the scheme in the schools.
Phil Cardew, the County's Football Development Officer is delighted with the way the scheme has been rolled out in the county: “It fits in perfectly with the FA’s and our programmes offering sustainable development to young players both at schools and in clubs. We welcome these schemes which can demonstrate the benefits of quality coaches. We are aiming to improve those youngsters who are trying football for the first time or who have been involved previously but not in a club structure.”
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Sports Colleges in Cornwall
Budehaven Community School
Callington Community College
Mounts Bay School
Penryn College
Poltair Community School and Sports College