SSE Wildcats football centres might be aimed at young girls – but The FA’s new flagship participation programme has even forced a rugby-loving dad to start up a six-a-side team of his own.
Glenn Baggaley started taking his daughters to Wildcats sessions at Shardlow United in Derbyshire.
He was just like any other parent or guardian on the sideline, until an innocent request for a stand-in goalkeeper led to him getting so immersed in the Wildcats movement that he is now planning on studying towards his Level 1 coaching badge.
REGISTER AS AN SSE WILDCATS ORGANISER
Glenn, how did you first hear about SSE Wildcats?
“I’ve got two daughters and my youngest said she wanted to start playing football. My wife Paula found an advert for Wildcats and I took my daughter along to the very first session run by Shardlow United.”
Why did you keep going back?
“I could see straight away that the manager, Sajj, was really passionate about getting the girls into football and we just hit it off. The next week my older daughter joined and the whole family have been going ever since.”
What made you decide to progress from watching to coaching?
“It was more by default really. As the sessions grew I started helping out more. The first time Sajj said: ‘Will you just stand in the goal and let the girls take shots at you?’ And it quickly progressed to: ‘Can you supervise this game of football?’ Now I help run the under-10s and I’m doing my FA Level 1 in coaching in the new year.”
What do you enjoy most about being involved with SSE Wildcats?
“It’s gone from something that the girls were going to do as a pastime to something we all do as a family. Paula is the first aider and we’ve all become really involved. It’s changed our lifestyle and we’ve all made new friends. I’ve played rugby since I was 11 and used to be semi-pro but now me and some of the Wildcats dads have signed up to a six-a-side football league.”
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
“Seeing the girls come off the pitch with a smile on their faces, loving the session and giving 100 per cent. And being able to understand them, knowing when they are tired and how to motivate them. The positive feedback from the parents is rewarding, too, and watching the girls develop, not just within football but at school.
“Their discipline and attitude is changing because they’ve got something in their life with goals and something to achieve. It’s humbling to see.”
What advice would you give to anyone thinking about helping out at an SSE Wildcats centre?
“Don’t be a touchline parent; you could have something to give. It doesn’t matter whether it’s half an hour of your time or more, I’d absolutely encourage any parent to get involved.
SSE WILDCATS: A PARENTS’ GUIDE
“Wildcats has brought us closer together as a family and it’s given me a newfound relationship with my girls. It’s fantastic.”
The FA is recruiting new organisers to operate an SSE Wildcats centre and support our mission of providing football opportunities for girls aged 5-11 years.
Moving into its second full year, SSE Wildcats now has over 800 centres nationwide and has attracted over 17,000 new girls to play the game for the first time.
The sessions take place on a weekly basis, either after school or at weekends, subject to each local organiser. They provide a safe environment where girls can have fun engaging with sport, make new friends, develop fundamental skills and create foundations for a lifelong love of sport.
When approved to become an SSE Wildcats centre you will receive funding, kit and equipment; everything you need to run your sessions. You will also be taken through induction training which will help you understand how to coach a complete newcomer.
Download our application guidance below to find out more about getting involved.
For any questions about becoming an SSE Wildcats centre, please contact your local County FA or e-mail [email protected]
