Soccer4Life
A Soccer Programme designed to not just teach the skills, but also the heart.
This programme is run in a few schools to children aged 5-12.
OVERVIEW
I believe the greatest issue facing human beings (apart from our decision to ignore our creator) is our inability to get on with each other.
The purpose of this programme is to encourage children to purposefully live to be a better person and in particular with respect to how we relate with one another.
The format of the programme is to run a 30 minute football session that is fun and develops skills and a 5-10 minute practical, challenging lifeskills teaching.
TOPICS
Otherness:enforcing the attitude that we are happier people when we put the needs of others as more important than our own.
We spend so much time thinking about ourselves. It is no wonder we are not always happy. Instead of asking, 'What can you do for me?', I should ask, 'What can I do for you?'
The opposite attitude to Otherness is selfishness. It is no surprise that selfish people are so often grumpy.
Attitude of Gratitude: the great smile word, 'thank you', makes all the difference. If I learn to use this word and the reason it matters I will find so much more in my relationships with others.
Thanks comes at three levels
1) Saying thank you. I need to think of all who I have not said thank you during my day and plan to change that. I should say thank you at least 10 times a day.
2) Showing thanks. Saying thank you is good, but expressing thanks is better. What can I do to show a person that I appreciate them and/or their gesture?
3) There is another level to showing thanks. This is called the sacrificial attitude of gratitude. This is where I am prepared to make a sacrifice to show that I am appreciative. Maybe I give up what I am doing to do something for someone else I am thankful to?
People who are not grateful also tend to be grumpy. It seems grumpy is a good barometer of attitude.
Self-Control: the attitude to do what I'm meant to do and not do what I'm not meant to do. If I can control a ball it does what I want it to. If I can control me I will do what I'm meant to.
A person with true self control always intends to make the best decisions rather than the easiest decisions.
Patience: it's not just about being patient to receive what we want, but also being patient with others who struggle as much as I to be perfect.
A patient person can be at the back of a waiting queue and not just be happy to receive something last, but be just as happy if they miss out.
Honesty: the first person I lie to is myself. If I can be honest with myself I can learn to be honest with others. When I'm honest with others I'm already on the road to achievement and discovering how freeing it is to be trusted. No one wants to be a person who isn't trusted.
Honesty isn't just telling the truth.
Honesty is doing what's right when it's easier not to. Honesty is when I could get away with lying, stealing or cheating and I chose not to.
Respect: treat others the way you want to be treated. It doesn't matter whether a person is a high achiever or a struggler, they deserve the same amount of respect.
The three 'P's of respect
Property. Respecting others property means I treat others property as I would want them to treat mine.
Position. Respecting others in a position of authority (parent, teacher, coach...), means I treat them as I would want to be treated if I had the same position.
Person. Treating another person with respect means I treat them as I would want to be treated. This is different than treating them as they may be treating me. I prove I am a better person when I respect someone who may not deserve it.
Perseverance: when I say, 'I can't do', I give up. When I say, 'I can't do yet', I keep trying. A person who calls things boring is equally as guilty of giving up. Boring is both an opinion and an attitude.
Perseverance is about taking on the seemingly impossible and not giving up. It's also about persevering in our relationships, especially with those we struggle to relate with.
While a marathon runs 42k he may not necessarily be persevering. However, when he runs 42k with a stitch, or cramp, or a nail in his foot, he then learns perseverance. Perseverance is when a person says, 'when it's hard I try harder'.
T.E.A.M: together everyone achieves more. A team is as strong as it's weakest player. A strong player helps the weak. That's a team.
A true team player takes pride in every member and chooses to serve everyone, not matter their position or ability.
SCHOOLS
Konini Primary - Tuesday 9:00-12:30pm
Kaurilands Primary - Thursday 9.00am-1.00pm
Glen Eden Primary - Friday 9:00 - 12:30pm
Waitakere Primary - Friday 9.00-12.40am