Evan Harrhy - Turning Training into Impact: A Day with FAW and Cardiff Met Sport

Firstly, this experience started with theoretical and practical training to provide useful tools for myself and other students looking to gain an outstanding opportunity and experience with the FAW and Cardiff Met Sport. This opportunity provided us students to gain a new qualification within the FAW known as ‘The CicStart Framework’. Its purpose is to provide coaches and educators with relevant tools on inclusive football practice with 10 game approaches.

The football festival therefore included a variety of games for different primary schools in Cardiff and then we as coaches had the opportunity to implement the 10 game approaches.

Furthermore, by doing this training, I believe it gave me more tools for my confidence and for my coaching skills to develop as it gave me more power to have an impact on children’s inclusion in football. This was through the 10 game approaches. By seeing 2 approaches called game adaptations and power play and how their implementation has impact. This is something that a classroom environment cannot teach.

Therefore, this has impacted me in a positive manner. This has given me the confidence and the skills to have an impact on children’s inclusion in football. This is crucial for me as not only a sport coaching student but also as an aspiring football coach in the future. This training has been a critical learning experience for me.

https://youtu.be/mQ8XOTF_XI0

As explained earlier, in the festival we had the chance to provide inclusion. For example, if a team had an advantage whether it being numerical or skill related, us as the coaches had the opportunity to limit the advantage by taking off children from the team with the advantage for a limited amount of time. Another example would be that for each player to pass to each member of their team; this way each child has fair and equal ball rolling time. Also, in this festival our role also included including the children who perhaps did not have access to equipment like footwear, so they were not included in the games. Therefore, as another coach was leading the game, I thought it would be a good idea to have a kickabout with that child so they can as much fun as their peers.

This gives children and the schools a chance to be involved in football and sport in general so they can participate in physical activity and more chance to bond with their peers. After all, it is requirement from the Welsh Government in the ‘What Matter Statements’ for children’s health and wellbeing.

The partnership between Cardiff Met and FAW is a holistic benefit. This is because it provides opportunities for students, schools, children, and staff to get involved.

To conclude, this experience has stuck with me as it brought together children from different backgrounds and skill levels as one.