Blue Square Bet Premier club Altrincham are about to launch two exciting new programmes which will allow it to employ up to forty full-time sport apprentices during the current season.
The club in partnership with the Sport For All Programme(SAP) have sourced matched funding that will help develop and educate young people in a variety of sports and at the same time provide a core base of sporting qualifications.
The scheme is open to both male and females who are aged between 16-24 years old and they can choose between two programmes both of which will be based at the Football Club;
The Football Education Programme is for any young footballer who is looking for an opportunity to develop over a season to work ,initially, towards a standard for semi-professional football. It is ideal for any late developers or young players who have been at professional clubs but have missed out on being given a scholarship. It will allow the young apprentice to work over a season to further develop their football skills and abilities through a programme of training sessions and matches against both professional and semi-professional youth teams. The programme will be led by qualified former professional footballers and Altrincham manager Graham Heathcote.
The Sport For All Programme is a programme for any young person who wants to develop towards a range of multi-sporting qualifications. It is a chance to learn new skills for a range of different sports and fitness training techniques and will allow participants to work over a period of up to forty weeks to further develop their sports skills and abilities through a schedule of training programmes.
Each programme will allow students to increase their education by working towards their NVQ Level 2 followed by NVQ Level 3 in Sport Recreation and First Aid and Child Welfare qualifications.
All the apprentices will be paid a weekly wage and will combine their professional coaching and education over a three day week.
Heathcote is excited about the schemes, stating: “It is an excellent opportunity for a club like ours to run both projects. The Football Education Programme allows us to try to train and develop young footballers and give them an insight into the level to aspire to and I am really looking forward to attending the training sessions and having an input.
“The Sport for All Programme will help youngsters develop and learn new skills in various sports, whilst working towards sporting qualifications. We recognise that we are a sporting focal point for our community and as such we are delighted to give the young people of Altrincham a positive opportunity.”
