CIFA’s technical department including Jimmy Katoa and Tuka Tisam will be visiting schools around Rarotonga to teach children the technical side of football while also showing them how to have fun with a range of small-sided games.
The school programme will run until the end of Term 1 starting with a successful competition – the Primary School Round Cup – for first and second year students. Following this initial competition, a one-day tournament for grades 4, 5 and 6 will be held on Wednesday 14 April.
Jimmy Katoa says the Primary School Round Cup competition is into its second year and proved popular last season with positive feedback from children, teachers, parents and supporters.
“The schools has been very supportive of our football programmes and it’s good to see the kids ready to learn and play football,” Katoa said.
The competition is played after school at the CIFA complex over a period of five weeks starting on Friday 12 March with the finals on Wednesday 7 April 2010.
It is about providing opportunities for children to be active and have a sense of “belonging”, being wanted and needed. Katoa says CIFA is eager to show how sport can assist in establishing good social values for young people in the Cook Islands.
While it is about fun and healthy lifestyle, there is also a competitive element to the school prgrammes. CIFA coaches will be identifying the best players (boys and girls) from the round cup competition to attend its “Talented Player” holiday camps during the first term holidays.
Story and photo courtesy CIFA Media.
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