Toddlers getting a kick out of the beautiful game

Budding football stars of the future aged as young as three are on the ball thanks to a new national coaching initiative launched by a Lancashire headquartered specialist provider of sports education for children.

SportsCool, which works with schools to enhance the delivery of curricular and extra-curricular physical education, with the view that every child should have the chance to participate, progress and achieve, has now created its ‘Soccer Cubs’ project.

The business' new football development centres, open for toddlers and children up to six years of age, are up and running in towns and cities across the UK – including Preston - with the aim to get the youngsters engaged in the beautiful game and working on their ball skills as early as possible.

And they are already proving massively popular with the children and their parents. SportsCool national director Lee Lysons said: “Our football development centres are a great way for toddlers and younger children to have lots of fun, stay active and to discover the joys of football.

“Our themed games are designed to be enjoyable and engaging, while also helping to develop the child’s ability and confidence. They are proving massively popular with the children taking part and their parents and guardians.”

SportsCool also offers football sessions for older children aged seven and over and again they are proving very popular. Lee said: “These sessions are geared towards developing essential skills like teamwork and sportsmanship.”

The business currently has 28 operations across the whole of the UK and it currently works closely with more than 400 education providers and has over 100 people working within its organisation.

The company’s management team has a wealth of coaching, sport, education, and business knowledge and has set out plans for the next 12 months to accelerate its growth journey. Those plans include opening 20 new franchises in all parts of the UK.

It has just opened new branches in Leicester and Derby, offering schools its diverse range of sports, from fencing and archery to ultimate frisbee and tri-golf and more.

All its activities are underpinned by the company’s ethos of “Educate: Motivate: Participate”. Its coaches make it their mission to find a sport for every child to love.

The business was founded in Blackburn by sports coaches Lee Lysons, Matt Parker and Andy Preston.

Lee said: “We are seeing increasing interest in what we do and what we can deliver to help children’s health and wellbeing. It really has gone to the top of the agenda following the pandemic and the impact that has had on youngsters.

“The ethos behind what we do is simple. At SportsCool we believe that sports education is fundamental to a child’s development

“We also believe that every child should have the chance to participate, progress and achieve in physical activities.

This in turn has a profound effect on self-esteem, confidence, motivation, physical aptitude, and all-round mental and physical health.

“We use positive rewards in everything that we do, our sessions raise aspirations, are accessible to all, and, most of all, they are fun. As a result, we see the youngsters blossom into confident, healthy and aspiring individuals.”

As well as Blackburn, in the North West it has branches in Bolton, Fylde, Preston, Bury and Cheshire East.