Wildcats is back for 2019/20 and we want your club to be involved!
Wildcats is the FA’s flagship programme giving girls aged 5-11 the chance to try football, in a relaxed and enjoyable environment.
Research shows that girls aged 5-11 want to play in a girls-only environment where they can learn new skills, make friends and have fun. The FA created the Wildcats Girls’ Football programme to offer this and Wildcats has been making an impact across Manchester since 2017, with 33 Centre’s currently running. If you’ve thought about delivering football activity for girls aged 5-11, the Wildcats programme can provide you full support, training, funding and opportunities to do this.
The application window will open again in November for new clubs and organisations to apply to host a Wildcats Centre. All centres approved for 2020 will start in April 2020 and can run for a minimum of 16 weeks - or continue all year-round!
To prepare clubs and organisations to deliver their Centre successfully, expert training will be given to each successful applicant ahead of the programme delivery period. Centres must run on a weekly basis, either after-school or at weekends, subject to the local organiser. They will provide a safe environment where girls with no football experience can; have fun engaging with sport, develop fundamental skills, try a variety of sessions, learn new things and create foundations for a lifelong love of sport.
To run a centre, you must be able to deliver the programme for a minimum of two seasons, with 16 sessions per year led by fully qualified FA coaches. Wildcats centres will receive an equipment bundle to make the sessions a success, along with £900 funding across two years. You will also have access to Manchester FA coach bursaries, mentor support and support from national FA staff.
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For more information, please contact our Football Development Officer for Women and Girls, Olivia Laiker.