Foundation Launches New Resources for Schools

The Reds boss took time out from pre-season training to speak at the launch event, which was held at the Cliff Training Ground, the base for the Foundation’s Football in the Community scheme.  Speaking about the important role the Club has in the community, he said:

“Manchester United has a strong commitment to youth that dates back to the times of Sir Matt Busby.   It is really important that we remember our roots and encourage local schools football.  I think the club has a responsibility to try and reach out to children, and we also need to give them encouragement at an early age.” 

The Resource Pack for Teachers has been developed to help non-specialist Primary Schools teachers to teach football in a structured and progressive way.  John Shiels, Chief Executive at MU Foundation is the author of the pack and is himself a trained teacher.  He explains why the pack has been created:

“It is not easy to teach a football lesson, especially when you don’t come from a football background, yet this is what many Primary School teachers do on a regular basis.  We want to provide schools with a service that will make real and lasting difference to the way they teach football.  So we have provided lesson plans that follow National Curriculum requirements and we have thrown in a bit of Manchester United magic on top of that.

“Our football coaches also work in each school for six weeks to demonstrate a number of the lessons for teachers. Hopefully, we will help teachers to get kids playing football in such a way that they will progress and develop; ultimately leaving teachers with the confidence and the resources to be self-reliant in teaching football.“

The event, which was attended by the Lord Mayor of Salford, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, local teachers, school children and representatives from football institutions, also celebrated fifteen years of Manchester United providing a free school football service to all schools in Trafford, Manchester and Salford to encourage physical activity and develop grass roots football. 

38,000 children in Trafford, Salford and Manchester have benefited from Manchester United Foundation’s schools service this academic year.

The resource pack is a comprehensive invasion game module for all year groups in Key Stage 2, and has been developed by the Foundation to help non-specialist Primary School PE teachers to teach football in a structured and progressive way. The pack is provided free of charge to all schools that the Foundation works with and contains detailed lesson plans covering all aspects of the game.