Soccer schools are back for the summer
Albion in the Community is once again running its hugely popular Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools.
Aimed at anyone aged between five and 12-years-old, Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools are a great place for young people to get active, learn new skills and make new friends in a safe and fun environment.
And with the FA recently updating its guidance on grassroots football, Albion in the Community has re-started its summer courses – with dates coming up in Brighton, Eastbourne, Worthing, and Horsham.
As part of Albion in the Community’s response to the current Covid-19 pandemic, all the charity’s soccer schools will follow FA guidelines on grassroots football and will have a high coach-to-player ratio and extra protocols in place.
Coaches will carry out full Covid-19 risk assessments before each session, while parents will be asked to complete self-declaration forms before their child attends.
There will also be temperature checks at the start of each soccer school and sanitiser stations at the venues. Equipment will also be regularly cleaned throughout the day and everyone taking part will be expected to fully adhere to government guidance on preventing the spread of Covid-19.
Mark Pedrick, football pathway manager at Albion in the Community, said the charity had gone to great lengths to adapt sessions to suit the current restrictions – with test events, additional staff training, and lengthy risk assessments done before any young players were allowed to attend.
He said, “The safety of our young players is absolutely central to everything we do as a charity and we have put in place a range of extra measures to make our sessions as safe as possible.
“The first soccer schools of the summer took place early this week and the feedback we have had so far has been fantastic.
“I know how much young people have been missing playing football and it was great to see them back on the pitch and enjoying themselves.”
Brighton & Hove Albion Soccer Schools run from either 9am or 10am until 3pm, and this summer youngsters taking part will also be given fun, football-themed activities to do during their lunch breaks, focusing on areas like numeracy and literacy. Albion in the Community’s nutritionist will also be visiting some sessions to talk about the importance of healthy eating and being active.
Prices start at £30 for a single day and soccer schools can be booked online now at: www.bhafcfoundation.org.uk/football/soccer-school.
Mindful of the fact some people are still cautious about returning to face-to-face sessions, the charity is also holding regular online football courses via Zoom. For more information on these – or to ask any questions about how the returning soccer schools will look – please email: soccerschools@bhafcfoundation.org.uk.