|
|
 |
|
| |
The Home of Singapore Football > Grassroots > Mini Football
In 2002, the Football Association of Singapore initiated the Sunday Mini Football programme for children between ages 7 to 12 years old. A partnership was formed with the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and the People's Association (PA) to promote the programme to the community.
The FAS provided technical advice and coaching expertise for the programme, while the SSC provided funding for 20 football centres. The People's Association formed football clubs and recruited participants through its vast grassroots network.
The objective of the programme is to encourage Singapore's children to develop a healthy, life-long sporting habit, foster bonding between parents and children as well as promote racial harmony by creating opportunities for social interaction among the diverse range of participants and their parents.
Another initiative for community mini football is the People's Association Children's League, which brings parents and their children between 5 to 7 together for fun football activities.
The children learn about social interaction with others and improve their motor-skills, while parent spend quality time with their child in a wholesome social environment within the community.
The league's partners are the FAS, Constituency Sports Clubs and Dr Steven Tan, a consultant from NIE.
The programme kicked off in June 2004 and there are currently seven centres with 100 children and 60 parent-volunteers. A children's tournament was organised on September 18 2004 at the Yishun Stadium for the participants of the PA Children's League.
The first Sunday Mini Football Tournament was held on June 29 in 2003 at Yusof Ishak Secondary School.
These tournaments provide an opportunity for children to participate in a friendly yet competitive football event, foster bonding between the parents and their children, promote racial harmony and facilitate interaction among the various grassroots leaders.
Consisting of three categories for 7 to 8 year-olds, 9 to 10 year-olds and 11 to 12 year-olds, the tournament received an overwhelming response from the eight football centers, with a total of 25 teams and 200 children taking part. Interest in forming new Mini Football centres was also expressed during this tournament.
The second Sunday Mini Football Tournament took place on 27 July the following year, and the event at Hougang attracted over 350 participants. In attendance were also FAS President Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee and Singapore international Baihakki Khaizan.
The enthusiasm and passion of the players, parents, coaches and grassroots leaders means that the continuation of the Sunday Mini Football programme is of utmost importance.
Besides inculcating football skills in children from a young age, the Mini Football programme aims to increase the number of centres and participants nationwide, organise min-football tournaments and promote this project to other grassroots organisations. |
|
|
