Football coach discusses impact of Sainsbury’s Inclusive Training
Over 4,000 people have benefitted from Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training, which is designed to improve the skills and confidence of those who support disabled people to be more active, and is a creative and informal development opportunity.
One such beneficiary is newly-qualified football coach Joseph Malasi, who completed his workshop last year.
He spoke to the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) at the time. Now he looks at the legacy of his experience of Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training and how it has helped him become a better football coach.
“I coach on Wednesdays at a local college and I’m helping a mixed group of disabled and non-disabled footballers, and on Saturday mornings I’m helping a group of lads with learning disabilities in Kempston in Bedfordshire. I also coach their under-6s team, the Pumas.
“On Saturdays, the players I work with are just there for a kickabout, just learning about and loving football.”
Joseph has a passion for disability sport after he experienced a road traffic accident in his teens. Riding his bike to his part-time job he was struck by a taxi and hospitalised.
“I’m 27 and I myself have a disability – nerve damage in my right hand and arm. Being disabled myself has helped me have sympathy and understanding for other players.
“When I came out of hospital all I wanted to do was continue to play football. I was given a sports sling to wear but that was no good – I was used to running without one. I stopped playing, until I saw a footballer who used a wheelchair. He was struggling to play the sport and I found myself giving him some impromptu coaching.
“It made me more aware of disability football, and now I feel satisfied when I help someone to enjoy the game.”
This passion led Joseph to a Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training session in 2015, arranged by local county sports partnership Team Beds & Luton.
Workshops are delivered by experienced tutors from project partners sports coach UK.
"I don’t coach a disabled participant differently”
Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training is for those who support disabled people of all ages within the community, and have an opportunity to put the training into practice.
And Joseph has implemented what he learned, developing and improving his coaching provision for disabled players.
“I have quite a bit of experience now at coaching disabled people to play football. I regard it not as a challenge; I just want to be able to help. It’s about enabling people to play the sport to the best of their ability. It’s all about thinking outside the box.
“For example, I coach a youngster on a Saturday. He has cerebral palsy and uses a walking frame, as well as being helped by a support worker. I help him to be included in the game and I insist he gets plenty of touches of the ball. He enjoys the sport, plus he gets to meet new people which is excellent for him.
“I try to include everyone, enabling everybody to do everything. I don’t coach a disabled participant differently.”
Joseph is clear that without bespoke development like Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training his improvement would have slowed.
“In my last year, gaining coaching experience after completing Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training 12 months or so ago, I have improved my knowledge of coaching young disabled players. I now know what exercises and drills work.
“Without something like Sainsbury’s Inclusive Community Training you will never learn or develop as a coach, you will never progress your work. Young players want to develop and they assume you know everything and can teach them. And receiving bespoke training such as this will really open your eyes.
“There are a lot of potential players out there who are intimidated by the idea of participating because they are disabled.
“There’s no limit to coaching. I love it, just as long as I’m helping someone to do something that I really like. That’s my goal.”
Over the last 18 months, EFDS has been documenting the positive experiences of many who have participated in workshops. For further information, please contact EFDS, email AK4A@efds.co.uk or telephone 01509 227751. Find us on Twitter @Eng_Dis_Sport, Facebook and LinkedIn.
