Mums On The Ball

Mums On The Ball

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 football coaches for children.

The Mums On The Ball campaign - backed by The FA, The Scottish FA, The Irish FA and The 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.

Lending their support are:

· 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.

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%) fundraise for their child’s team;

· one in twelve (8%) volunteer their time to their child’s club.

The campaign is part of McDonald’s overall community coaching programme which has so far created over 11,500 new qualified coaches across the UK to provide more children with access to qualified coaching.

Sir Geoff Hurst, McDonald’s Director of Football, said:

“Mums On The Ball will help mums rethink the role they can play in grassroots football, encouraging them off the touchline and onto the pitch itself. Mums know how to engage children, how to speak their language and how to motivate them – I can’t think of a better starting point for a grassroots coach.”

Lynn Walcott added:

“Through supporting my son’s career, I’ve seen the difference a good coach can make. I understand what makes a good coach and agree that many of the qualities I have as a mother are totally relevant to coaching youngsters. There’s no reason why mums shouldn’t feel confident about getting involved.”

Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA’s Director of Football Development, said:

“The FA is committed to improving the standard of grassroots football and McDonald’s community coaching programme, with its mission to create new qualified coaches, is helping to do this. We’re delighted to support the Mums On The Ball campaign as it will encourage even more people to volunteer as coaches.”

For further information about Mums On The Ball, to download a free guide or to register interest for one of the coaching courses, please visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk (Be Active section).

If you are not a mum but are interested in coaching, then McDonald’s community coaching programme continues to be open to anyone, male or female, young or old, parent or otherwise. Please visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk for further information.