Forty Children Kick Off FC Emmen’s “Voetjebal”
On Saturday morning 24 September, FC Emmen Voetjebal kicked off in Sporthal Meerdijk. With forty children aged two to five, divided into four groups, the first edition of FC Emmen Voetjebal was completely full. The participants who had managed to secure a spot took part in the first training of FC Emmen Voetjebal with great pleasure and enthusiasm. Up to and including December, the forty footballers will follow nine more training sessions. Apart from technical development, the lessons also focus on improving the child’s general motor skills, social skills and cognitive development.
Habituation and confidence
After all the football players donned their FC Emmen Voetjebal uniforms after entering, the adventure began at 9.00 am for the youngest participants of FC Emmen Voetjebal. The remaining classes for the 3, 4 and 5-year-olds started at 9.45am, 10.45am and 11.30am. In the beginning, it was especially nerve-wracking for all the footballers. But with the help of their own coach, namely their own mum or dad, they started to enjoy playing Voetjebal more and more. The first lesson focused on getting used to it and gaining confidence. This included running, dribbling and shooting with an FC Emmen football, but also with a beanbag and a balloon. The 45 minutes (the duration of each Football training session) flew by. The footballers were already looking forward to the next training session scheduled for Saturday 1 October.
About Voetjebal
Voetjebal is a parent-child game concept of Voetjebal Nederland in which parents actively participate during the training sessions. Toddlers and preschoolers are introduced to a ball for the first time in a structured way, together with one of their parents, with the emphasis of course on play and fun. During the Voetjebal lessons, ample use is made of cheerful music, giving the lesson a swinging character.
But Voetjebal is much more than a football playing concept. Many basic developmental areas are addressed during the sessions. In a playful way, the children learn to name colours, count in sync and recognise symbols, among other things.
Various elements of a ‘healthy lifestyle’ are also incorporated into the lessons. All the Voetjebal material is specially designed for children and stimulates their coordination, agility and balance. Cones are used, special skill balls, as well as hoops, pit bags and balancing boards, all in cheerful colours. During the Soccer sessions, children also develop their social skills, concentration ability, the ability to perform simple tasks and gain self-confidence.
Aris Limassol FC Social, Environmental, and Health Initiatives
