Mums of some of the UK's top footballers have joined forces with McDonald's to launch a campaign to encourage and help more mums become qualified grassroots coaches.
The Mums On The Ball campaign - backed by The FA, Scottish FA, Irish FA and Welsh Football Trust - will raise awareness of the qualities that mums can bring to coaching and also help mums become qualified coaches by providing 160 free places on courses across the UK.
Alongside mums who have already qualified as coaches (pictured), the following footballers' mums are lending their support to the campaign:
• Janice St Fort
Mum of Rio and Anton Ferdinand
(England, Manchester United and West Ham United)
• Lynn Walcott
Mum of Theo Walcott
(England and Arsenal)
• Debbie Bale
Mum of Gareth Bale
(Wales and Tottenham Hotspur)
• Heather Gordon
Mum of Craig Gordon
(Scotland and Sunderland)
• Evelyn Hughes
Mum of Aaron Hughes
(Northern Ireland and Fulham)
Mums On The Ball is focusing on mums because research and experience shows that whilst many mums have the potential skills and interest to become coaches, they are often less inclined to consider coaching than others groups of society. However, the parenting skills which mums possess and their natural ability to engage with children have much in common with the skills needed to coach children. Download our free guide to find out more about these skills (see below).
Additionally, a new ICM survey reveals that 77% of mums already enjoy playing a hands-on role in their children's football. This includes:
• A quarter (26%) of mums regularly kick a ball around with their children;
• Almost half of mums (44%) support at matches;
• One in ten (10%) mums fundraise for their child's team;
• One in twelve (8%) mums volunteer their time to their child's club.
The campaign is part of McDonalds overall community coaching programme which has so far created over 11,500 new qualified coaches across the country to provide more children with access to qualified coaching.
"Mums On The Ball is all about getting mums to rethink the role they can play in grassroots football. They have the potential skills and they have the natural ability to engage with children - I can't think of a better starting point for a coach," said Sir Geoff Hurst, McDonalds Director of Football.
So what happens now? Where do I find out more information?
• Click here to download a free Mums On The Ball guide offering campaign information, details of our Mums On The Ball team, inspirational case studies, simple coaching tips and full information about how to apply for free coaching courses.
• Click here to apply for one of the free coaching course places.
• Click here to download a free campaign poster if you want to let friends and family know about the campaign.
And if you're not a mum but want to get involved in coaching, Click here for details of McDonalds overall community coaching programme which continues to offer anyone the chance to become a coach - male or female, young or old, parent or otherwise.
