This week at the Football Fun Factory, we’ve been celebrating Children’s Mental Health Week, an annual event established by the children’s mental health charity Place2Be to highlight the importance of young people’s wellbeing.
At FFF, our Superstar Head Coaches take their roles seriously, delivering fun, inclusive sessions that use football as a vehicle for children to develop positive life skills and positive mental health. We know that football – and any physical activity in general – plays a crucial role in both mental and physical health, helping children build confidence, develop social skills, and, most importantly, have fun while feeling good about themselves.
Each week at the FFF, we introduce a new Word of the Week to Help reinforce children’s key learning points within our sessions. This week, for Children’s Mental Health Week, that word is movement, a fundamental aspect of both physical and mental health.
From the moment our sessions begin, we encourage children to get moving as quickly as possible – because we know they don’t like standing still! Movement helps us all feel good at our sessions, boosts confidence, and helps every child develop in a way that’s enjoyable and inclusive. Studies show that engaging in sports and physical activity is a powerful driver for improving mental health, and and at FFF, we see the positive impact of movement in every session.
The theme of this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself,” focusing on the importance of self-awareness in emotional development.
As a child, football was so important to me. I lacked confidence and was incredibly shy, but the football pitch was where I felt good and it gave me a space to express myself and have fun. Through football, I made so many new friends, developed confidence, and built life skills that shaped me far beyond the pitch itself.
Now I was incredibly lucky to go on to have a career as a professional football player, which is an experience I’m so grateful for. I have so many precious memories from playing the game I love, but without a doubt, the most precious ones were made in my earliest experiences as a child.
And it was in those experiences that I learnt the most, and they weren’t tactical or technical lessons. They were about having fun with my friends, being part of a team, learning how to win and lose with grace, and understanding good sportsmanship. Those experiences not just as a player, but as a person. And it was the positive role models – my coaches – who played a huge part in that journey.
It is without a doubt a massive responsibility to be a children’s football coach. Do it well, and a child will remember you forever, not just for the skills you teach them, but most importantly for providing them with a positive experience to develop life skills.
At the Football Fun Factory, our Head Coaches take pride in creating a fun, inclusive environment where children can express themselves, develop essential life skills, and experience the incredible mental health benefits of football.
We are passionate about making football fun and using it as a vehicle for child development, helping young players grow in confidence, resilience, and social skills, all while making memories that last a lifetime.
But don’t just take our word for it! We asked parents why they believe movement is so important for their child. Watch their responses here:
Visit our website and enter your postcode to find a Football Fun Factory session right on your doorstep:
Tots Football Fun – Our weekly training programme for children aged 18 months-5 year olds offers an introduction to football through fun games and activities, inside our fantastic inflatable football pitch!
Football Fun & Development – Our weekly training programme for 5-12 year olds offers a combination of technical training, fun games and matches for boys and girls of any ability level. Sessions are led by our superstar Head Coaches at a location near you!
Football Fun Camps – Experience unforgettable Football Fun in the school holidays!
Becoming a FFF Franchisee gives you the opportunity to run your own football coaching business while making a real impact in your community. Learn more about joining the Football Fun Factory family here.
This weekend, James, Jonny, Oli, and I are off on a little trip, and we couldn’t be more excited! After a hectic but brilliant start
Over the past four months, our Head Office team has doubled in size, enabling us to better support our growing team of superstar Head Coaches.
