2024-08-07 22:10:02
Our Chelsea FC International Football Development coaches continued their vital work in local communities during our time in Atlanta.
In partnership with Soccer in the Streets, a not-for-profit inner-city programme based in Atlanta, we delivered six bespoke coaching clinics.
Children between the ages of eight and 16 benefitted from the sessions, which were supported by EA Sports – FC Future. All participants attending the clinics enjoyed a range of technical training sessions, with the focus on dribbling, passing, receiving the ball, and free-kicks, part of the EA Futures drills programme.
All training sessions concluded with a range of small-sided games so participants could showcase what they had learned.
The clinics were delivered at the StationSoccer locations in Lindbergh and West End. They are near train stations to enable easy access, part of an innovative programme to regenerate areas close to public transit across the city.
The sessions were led by Chelsea International Football Development coaches Ian Woodroffe, Christopher Woodward, Jack West and Tom Atkinson.
There was a special guest on Tuesday morning as Gary Cahill joined in the sessions, and the excitement ramped up further later in the week when six Chelsea players surprised the youngsters in attendance.
Reece James, Malo Gusto, Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo, Wesley Fofana and Marcus Bettinelli took part in the sessions to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Atlanta-based children, who were also given free tickets to watch our impressive 3-0 win over Club America at the Mercedez-Benz Stadium.
The EA Rush tournament was won by a Chelsea team featuring Cahill, and he commented on the importance of events such as these.
‘Because it is such a built-up place, the coaches were saying the kids would not be playing football if these pitches were not there, so it is a really good scheme,’ said Cahill.
‘I went down there a couple of times and our coaches have been putting on some great sessions and it has been so nice to see the kids playing with smiles on their faces. I got involved in a couple of sessions and tried to pass on the odd tip!’
The local coaches also benefitted from Chelsea’s expertise, taking part in an interactive workshop where they could improve their own training methodologies. It epitomised a hugely beneficial week for all involved.
Ian Woodroffe, Chelsea FC’s head of international development, said: ‘Helping profile these programmes is so important to these communities, who often struggle to access the game due to lack of space and the costs to participate.
‘It’s been a brilliant week working with the team and players from Soccer in the Streets. It is such a fantastic concept, regenerating spaces but also using income from adult pay-to-play leagues to fund free programmes for the inner city community.
‘The players and coaches have been great to work with and we have made lots of great connections we hope to build on in the coming years.’
