Coaching for disabled players (From Stroud News and Journal)

Coaching for disabled players

Forest Green Rovers FC have begun weekly football coaching sessions for disabled children and adults. The club has committed itself to the introduction of disability football as one of the key stages in their Sports in the Community Development Plan.

The football fun sessions, which started in September in partnership with the Ability Sports Association (ASA), are held every Monday on the all weather pitch at Stratford Park Leisure Centre in Stroud. There are hourly sessions between 10.30am - 4.30pm delivered by FA qualified coaches supplied by Forest Green and the ASA.

To date more than 40 children and 30 adults from special needs schools, colleges and day centres have benefitted from this new initiative.

FGR Director, John Clapp, explained: " Our aims are to enable disabled persons to develop in football, to promote a positive awareness of disability sport to the local community and businesses and to enable disabled persons access to football, with appropriate facilities, qualifi ed coaches and opportunities to excel."

Ability Sports Association Co-ordinator, Mike Robey, added: " We are delighted that Forest Green Rovers have launched this exciting project and the ASA is happy to assist and support them in their aims.

"The opportunity to take part is open to all disabled persons in the county of Gloucestershire and we hope as many of them as possible will take advantage of this initiative."

The club contacted all the special needs schools and day centres in the Stroud catchment area. The response was very positive with requests for sessions from Cirencester, Stonehouse, Cam, and Stroud. Transport, assistance and funding however are all issues which have an effect on the ability of many of the schools and centres, and individuals, to take advantage of the opportunity to attend sessions.

Mr PJ Morgan, headteacher at the Shrubberies School in Stonehouse, said: "What a wonderful initiative to be involved in.

"The coaching staff of Forest Green Rovers FC not only provide our pupils, who have learning difficulties, with the opportunity to learn and play football on a weekly basis, but provide access to amenities and resources not normally open to us. We are grateful for their involveme nt and the fun they generate for our pupils."