Coach's Perspective

However well-intentioned our vision, there’s no getting away from the fact that a football franchise without friendly, dedicated coaches is a bit like asking Wayne Rooney to play every Saturday in a pair of lime green wellies.

Fortunately we’ve enough well-tuned coaches to make National Express go green with envy, because, as we all know, enthusiasm and energy are no substitutes for a CV brimming with the right blend of physical fitness, hard earned coaching qualifications and a deep-seated appreciation of working with children.

Our outgoing coaches come from all walks of life, ranging from sports students and teachers to purposeful parents wanting to try something a little different.

We are delighted to share a bench with such polished professionals, which is why we’d like to give up the rest of this page to a leading Little Kicks coach to provide his own personalised perspective on what our team can offer.

FROM THE DUGOUT

Nick Empson, Lead Coach at Hatchride Primary School, Crowthorne.

I joined Little Kicks in January 2006 to supplement my Sports Degree. Working hours perfectly fitted into my Uni schedule and the pay was fantastic. Initially I valued the experience of working with such a young age group that I had never encountered before.

A year on, and now a graduate working full time, I still give up my Saturday morning (and my Friday nights!) to coach my Little Kicks classes.

Having full classes with waitlists is a huge compliment for any coach – I must be doing something right! Working for Little Kicks is an absolute pleasure, and I do not consider it ‘work’ at all. The sense of satisfaction and achievement is immense as you influence the children’s week on week progression, moving from parental dependence initially – to fully independent active participation. My classes are fun-packed and full of energy, adding to the ‘enjoyment factor’ for myself as well as the children enrolled.

I love being part of Little Kicks and will continue coaching for as long as possible.