David has passion for coaching role
He holds a strong passion for introducing new and aspiring coaches to the game.
And he hopes getting more people involved in football coaching at a younger age will help the Perth and Kinross region flourish in years to come.
David Reid, Fair City Junior FC’s young coach development officer, has kicked-off a programme for kids to learn the ins and outs of the game.
He explained: “The programme came about following our highly successful summer camps in 2019.
“I led a coaching team of boys and girls, aged mainly between the ages of 12 to 16.
“They were all young people known to myself or the club through previous endeavours.
“We saw the potential these young kids had as coaches and their ability to form player-coach relationships and the positive impact this had.
“We identified the need for a programme where these young kids could develop and enhance both their coaching and leadership skills.
“We thought that, if we could get a programme or course in place to cater for the needs of these young coaches, then it potentially secures many young coaches to look after the future of youth football in Perth and Kinross.
“We have 16 participants involved in the programme in its first year, representing nine clubs across Perthshire from Crieff Juniors to Pitfour as well as a number from within Fair City Juniors.”
David highlighted the benefits go far beyond the field of play.
“The programme involves a level five or level four award in sports leadership, an SQA equivalent of a national four or national five,” David added.
“It specifically focuses on developing leadership and employability skills such as communication, organisation and adaptability.
“We have also, as a club, created our own units and projects we feel will benefit our young coaches for years to come.
“We’ve run events such as mental health awareness training and have a CPR and defibrillator training night in the diary for later this month.
“Our young coaches are committing on average three hours a week to both theory work and hands on coaching within age groups at Fair City Juniors and other clubs.”
Moving forward, David would love to continue to build on the programme and see it rolled out across the country.
He said: “It’s most definitely a programme we would like to continue to run year after year.
“It allows us to provide young coaches with the training, help and support that can hopefully give them a platform to do positive things in sports coaching.
“Hopefully it can be something we can implement across the East Region and eventually on a national scale.
“But it’s important we realise it is still in its early stages of development.
“As a club we believe it’s important coaches are educated correctly and support the positive ethos of development and inclusion we have.
“The club is massive on development and inclusion of young people across Perth and Kinross.”
It potentially secures many young coaches to look after the future of youth football