Totton College’s Football and Sports Coaching Traineeship students got a taste of the professional game, when they spent a day at Chelsea FC training ground.
The Level 2 and Level 3 traineeship courses, which are run in partnership with Diamond Soccer School, provide students with access to 15 hours football training a week, as well as study and work experience opportunities in personal fitness, coaching and sports leadership across an array of sports.
In addition to preparing students for a variety of careers within the sport and leisure industry, there can be the opportunity for some students to move on to football apprenticeships and pro or semi-pro football careers.
All traineeship students gain work experience during the courses, and many benefit from enrichment opportunities such as this visit to Chelsea FC’s training ground.
John Dutton, senior development coach for Chelsea Football Club Foundation in the Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset region, managed and coached the sessions on the day. He said: “The event was exclusively offered to Totton College, and we were impressed with the skill and work ethos of the students.
“I felt it was appropriate to deliver a session where they could understand the level of preparation the first team goes through in getting ready for a Premier League match. They took part in an extended ABC warm up, followed by a technique session where they were challenged with making contact on the football in excess of six hundred times over a fifteen minute period.”
The enrichment day ended with some competitive 20-minute games.
Sarah Woodall, Totton College’s work-based learning co-ordinator, said: “We’re grateful to Chelsea Football Club and the Foundation team who made our traineeship students very welcome. The boys worked very hard, and gained an inspiring insight into the highest level of training and match preparation.”
John, who is responsible for ensuring that coaches are delivering quality sessions within the community, added: “The boys in attendance did brilliantly well, their technical level was good and their attitude was exemplary, I’d be delighted to welcome them again next year.”
