Raedan FC and Sports Programme: Building Champions for Life
Raedan FC and Sports Programme: Building Champions for Life
Where Sport Meets Community Development
At Raedan Institute, we believe that sport has the power to transform lives, build character, and strengthen communities. Our comprehensive sports programme, anchored by Raedan FC, provides children aged 5-14 with opportunities to develop athletic skills, build confidence, and form lasting friendships in a supportive, inclusive environment.
Located at our Centre of Excellence Hall at 2 Overton Road, Leicester, our indoor sports facility offers year-round training opportunities, ensuring that weather never stands in the way of a child’s sporting development.
Raedan FC: More Than Just Football
Four Dynamic Teams
Raedan FC operates four age-appropriate teams, welcoming both boys and girls aged 5-14. Our structured approach ensures that every child receives age-appropriate coaching and development opportunities:
- Little Kickers (Ages 5-7): Focusing on fun, basic ball skills, and introduction to teamwork
- Young Stars (Ages 8-10): Developing fundamental football techniques and game understanding
- Rising Athletes (Ages 11-12): Advanced skill development and tactical awareness
- Future Champions (Ages 13-14): Competitive play preparation and leadership development
Weekend Training Sessions
Every weekend from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, our Centre of Excellence comes alive with the energy and enthusiasm of young athletes. These two-hour sessions are carefully structured to maximise development while ensuring every participant enjoys their sporting experience.
“Watching my daughter Amira progress from a shy 6-year-old who barely touched the ball to a confident team captain has been incredible,” shares Fatima, a parent. “The coaches at Raedan FC don’t just teach football – they teach life skills, confidence, and the importance of working together.”
A Multi-Sport Approach
While football forms the cornerstone of our programme, we recognise that children benefit from exposure to various sports. Our comprehensive offering includes:
Hockey
Basketball
Badminton
Cricket
FIFA Recognition and Support
We’re proud to have received funding from FIFA, the world’s governing body of football, recognising our commitment to grassroots football development and community impact. This support enables us to maintain high-quality facilities, provide professional coaching, and ensure that cost never becomes a barrier to participation. FIFA’s Football for Hope programme, which supports community-based football projects worldwide, aligns perfectly with our mission of using sport as a vehicle for positive social change¹. This recognition validates our approach and provides additional resources to expand our impact within the Leicester community.
Professional Coaching Excellence
Qualified Coaching Staff
All our coaches hold relevant qualifications and are committed to ongoing professional development. Our coaching philosophy centres on:
- Positive reinforcement: Building confidence through encouragement and constructive feedback
- Inclusive participation: Ensuring every child feels valued and included regardless of ability level
- Skill progression: Systematic development of technical and tactical abilities
- Character development: Using sport to teach respect, perseverance, and teamwork
“Coach Ahmed has been phenomenal with my son Kai,” reflects parent Marcus. “He’s not just improved his football skills – he’s helped him become more confident in school and more willing to try new challenges. That’s the kind of impact good coaching can have.”
Accessibility and Inclusion
Affordable Excellence
At just £10 per month for 8 comprehensive sessions, our programme offers exceptional value while remaining accessible to families across our community. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to participate in quality sports programming, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
All Equipment Provided
We eliminate barriers to participation by providing all necessary equipment, including:
- Football boots and training equipment
- Sports clothing and bibs
- Protective gear for hockey
- Racquets for badminton
- Cricket bats and protective equipment
This comprehensive provision ensures that enthusiasm and commitment are the only requirements for participation.
Open to All Abilities
Our programme welcomes children of all skill levels, from complete beginners to those with previous sporting experience. Research by Sport England shows that positive early experiences in sport are crucial for lifelong participation, with children who enjoy sport being 5 times more likely to remain active as adults².
Recognition and Achievement
Completion Awards
We celebrate commitment and progress through our structured recognition system. Children who complete 12 sessions receive certificates and prizes, acknowledging their dedication and encouraging continued participation. This approach recognises that in youth sport, participation and effort are as important as natural ability.
Personal Development Tracking
Each child’s progress is monitored not just in terms of sporting ability, but also in areas such as:
- Teamwork and cooperation
- Leadership potential
- Communication skills
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Resilience and perseverance
“My daughter Zara was so proud when she received her completion certificate,” says parent Priya. “It wasn’t just about the football skills she’d learned – the coach highlighted how she’d become a natural encourager for younger children and shown real leadership qualities.”
Success Stories
Individual Achievement
Ten-year-old Hassan joined our programme as a quiet child who struggled with confidence at school. After 18 months with Raedan FC, his teachers report dramatic improvements in his classroom participation and peer relationships. Hassan recently captained his age group team and has expressed interest in pursuing coaching qualifications when he’s older.
Team Success
Our Under-12 girls’ team, initially formed with players who had never played organised football, recently completed their first full season of matches against established local clubs. While results varied, their improvement in teamwork, communication, and technical skills was remarkable, with several players being invited to trial for school representative teams.
Community Integration
The sports programme has become a meeting point for families from Leicester’s diverse communities. Parents from different cultural backgrounds have formed lasting friendships through supporting their children’s sporting journeys, embodying our belief that sport builds bridges across all divides.
Our Sports Philosophy
Holistic Development
At Raedan FC and throughout our sports programme, we view athletic development as inseparable from personal growth. Our philosophy encompasses:
Physical Development: Building fitness, coordination, and sport-specific skills through progressive, age-appropriate training methods.
Mental Resilience: Teaching children to cope with challenges, learn from setbacks, and maintain positive attitudes in the face of difficulty.
Social Skills: Fostering teamwork, communication, leadership, and respect for others through collaborative sporting experiences.
Cultural Appreciation: Celebrating the diverse backgrounds of our participants while building unity through shared sporting goals.
Life Skills Transfer: Helping children understand how lessons learned through sport apply to academic, social, and future professional contexts.
Community Impact and Partnerships
School Collaboration
We actively seek partnerships with local primary schools to complement their PE programmes and identify children who might benefit from additional sporting opportunities. Research indicates that children who participate in organised sport show improved academic performance, with regular physical activity linked to better concentration and classroom behaviour³.
Organisational Partnerships
Our goal is to work with youth organisations, community groups, and other charities to ensure our sports programme reaches children who might otherwise miss out on these opportunities. These partnerships help us identify and support children facing various challenges, using sport as a pathway to broader personal development.
Health and Wellbeing Outcomes
The mental health benefits of youth sport participation are well-documented. The Department of Health reports that children who participate in regular physical activity experience:
- Reduced anxiety and depression symptoms
- Improved self-esteem and body image
- Better sleep patterns
- Enhanced social connections⁴
Future Aspirations
Facility Expansion
We’re working towards expanding our indoor facilities to include dedicated spaces for different sports, allowing us to run concurrent sessions and accommodate more participants.
Competitive Opportunities
Plans are underway to enter our older age groups into local leagues, providing competitive opportunities for children ready for that challenge while maintaining our inclusive, development-focused approach.
Coach Development
We’re establishing a pathway for older participants and parent volunteers to gain coaching qualifications, ensuring the sustainability and growth of our programme while providing career development opportunities within our community.
Join the Raedan FC Family
Whether your child is taking their first tentative kicks of a football or dreaming of sporting stardom, Raedan FC and our comprehensive sports programme offers a welcoming, supportive environment for growth and development.
Our weekend sessions provide more than just sporting instruction – they offer friendship, confidence-building, and life skills that extend far beyond the sports hall. In an age where childhood obesity affects 1 in 3 children and mental health challenges are increasingly common, our programme provides a positive, active alternative that addresses multiple aspects of child development⁵.
“Raedan FC isn’t just where my son plays football – it’s where he’s learned to believe in himself,” concludes parent Sarah. “The skills, friendships, and confidence he’s gained here will benefit him for the rest of his life.”
Ready to Get Started? Contact us today to register your child for our next intake:
- Phone: 07725974831
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 2 Overton Road, Leicester, LE5 0JA
Join us every weekend from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and discover how sport can transform your child’s confidence, fitness, and future prospects. At Raedan FC, every child is a champion in the making.
References:
- FIFA (2023). Football for Hope: Annual Impact Report
- Sport England (2022). Active Lives Children and Young People Survey
- Institute of Medicine (2013). Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School
- Department of Health (2021). Physical Activity Guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers’ Report
- NHS Digital (2022). National Child Measurement Programme Statistics
