Learning to be organised and responsible
The Thamarai U14 football team practices respect for their environment with every training session beginning with the players leading a cleanup of the football grounds, making sure any papers or rubbish have been cleaned away before practice begins. Recently, the team self organised postponing a practice session in order to repair a damaged net, taking responsibility to repair the goals themselves.
Exciting football games!
When training, we are doing drills to build on basic skills. Those older children on the team act as mentors, teaching the younger members how to perform the skill, practice free kicks and to support their learning. The Thamarai students team played their first ever games in recent months! We had a thrilling two game series against the young Auroville Football team. Losing the first match and closely winning the second had an electric energy in the village.
Values through football
The children were so energised by the games that we have started to design an U14 football tournament with other teams in the neighbouring villages. I’m very proud of the thoughtful, disciplined group of young boys. They are growing into responsible young men who are understanding the values of respect, full potential and community.