Activities for young people

Strikes Junior Soccer Academy offers group football soccer for boys and girls aged 4 to 13.

Children follow a 12 week programme called the Soccericulum, designed for children of all abilities.

Certificates and badges are available to buy as children work through the programme.

Soccericulum

There are 24 levels of progression within the Soccericulum, 18 during Junior Strikes and 6 during Premier Strikes.

Children start the Soccericulum at non-league level and work through the levels until they reach the Champions league.

At this stage children should have mastered all basic skills and be able to perform complex drills and turns in pressurised situations. Parents can track their child's progress using the relevant assessment card. Assessment cards are issued on enrolment. When a child completes a level they can collect their certificate from reception.

Premiere Strikes classes are by invitation only. From these classes children may be invited to join Birmingham City FC's Academy or Walsall FC's School of Excellence.

First Strikes - 4 to 6 years

First Strikes classes are designed to introduce children to soccer.

Children learn basic skills, passing, shooting and dribbling. First Strikes helps children develop independence, balance, co-ordination and motor skills and also encourages them to become socially interactive and confident.

Junior Strikes - 6 years +

During Junior Strikes children work through the Soccericulum (Strikes Progression System).

Children enrolled on Junior Strikes learn more advanced skills, including heading, tackling and movement. Parents can track their childs progress using the assessment card given to them on enrolment.

Premier Strikes - by appointment only

The Premier Strikes coaching programme is run in partnership with Birmingham County Development Scheme, Walsall FC and Birmingham City FC.

Levels 19-24 of the Soccericulum have been designed especially for children who have excelled during Junior Strikes and would benefit from advanced coaching.

Children who show particular qualities while on Premier Strikes may be invited to join Birmingham City FC's Academy or Walsall FC's School of Excellence.

How to Join

Your child must be at least 4 years old to enrol. You can get an application form from your nearest leisure centre.

On enrolment, each child receives a personalised Strikes ID Card, which must be produced at reception before each lesson. The card ensures priority booking for subsequent courses.

Course prices are available from your nearest leisure centre.

During school holidays strikes offer one-week intensive holiday courses, combining the fundamentals of the longer Strikes courses with fun drills and small-sided games.

Strikes Disability Centre

Strikes works in partnership with the FA to provide disabled football provision within Birmingham.

For more information contact:

Scot Leydon, Assistant Football Development Officer

Phone: 0121 464 0189

FA Girls & Womens Football Development Officer

Phone: 0121 357 4278

Coach Education

A 24 - 30 hour course aimed at managers and coaches involved in junior team football. Course content includes attitudes and ethics, emergency aid, practical delivery and awareness of related aspects including growth and development, overuse injuries and football fitness.

Who is the course for?

• Minimum age 16 years
• Managers and coaches of club teams aged 7-16 years
• Prospective candidates for the FA Coaching Certificate
• Youth leaders and prospective youth leaders
• Colleges of FE students
• CCPR CSLA students

The Strikes Junior Soccer Academy is endorsed by Birmingham County Football Asscoiation and Birmingham City Football Club.

Strokes offers swimming lessons for all ages and abilities. All our teachers are accredited, either by the Amateur Swimming Asscoiation (ASA) or the Swimming Teachers Association (STA).

Mini Strokes

For young children aged four months to five years who love to play in the water

First Strokes

For confident three year olds and nervous four to five year olds

Junior Strokes

For children aged four and over who are confident in shallow water and who are able to follow instruction

Junior Options

For children who are confident in deep water and who are able to:

• Swim at least 100 metres
• Submerge fully
• Tread water

Premier Strokes

Designed to cater for individual needs. The pupil-to-teacher ratio has been kept low with this in mind

Adult Strokes

Whatever your age, its never too late to learn to swim

To register an interest in a Strokes Course visit a leisure centre of your choice to enrol.