Everton in the Community & Enrich Education
Everton in the Community has teamed up with Enrich Education to become the first football club in the world to undertake the official ‘Youth Quidditch’ training qualification. Through the 1st4Sport Endorsed course, Everton in the Community coaches will be able to deliver quidditch in primary and secondary schools across Merseyside, engaging and encouraging a wide variety of young people in physical activity.
The 3 hour training course helps the participants understand this new and exciting sport, developing knowledge of the players positions, equipment and rules and how it is implemented at a youth level. The ‘Introduction to Quidditch’ course is the only official youth quidditch coaching course available worldwide.
Watch our training videos here
To celebrate this partnership, Enrich Education and local Knowsley primary school St Aloysius attended USM Finch Farm to show some of the Everton first team players how to play the game of Quidditch! Alex Iwobi and Oumar Niasse joined the pupils to learning all about the rules, roles and equipment of this new sport, but could they tell the difference between a quaffle and a bludger?
The Everton starts wasted no time in putting their new skills into practice before a short-sided game and fulfilled the role of the golden snitch with children tasked with catching them.
After the session, Blues striker Iwobi said: “I’m a complete beginner to quidditch and, before today, wasn’t even aware that it was a sport that is taught in schools. I’ve had a great afternoon finding out more about it and it’s a fantastic way to engage more children in physical activity using the pull of books that they know and love.”
John McBride, Enrich Education Director, added: “Developing pioneering relationships like this with organisations like Everton in the Community is crucial when tackling the issues our schools and young people are currently facing, such as physical inactivity and childhood obesity.
“Our work together is a really positive step forward and paves the way for schools across Merseyside to utilise quidditch as a new and exciting tool when encouraging more young people to get active and participate in sport.
“It’s truly unique, intriguing and engages such a wide variety of young people through its famous origins, the distinctive equipment used and its fast, high intensity game play.”
Mick King, EitC’s Sport Education and Development Manager, said: “We are delighted to be the first football club to have received Quidditch training. The sessions were inclusive, fun and engaging throughout the day. The beauty of quidditch is its universal appeal, from those who enjoy playing sports to those who enjoy the Harry Potter series but may not think of themselves as ‘sporty’, there is something for everyone and we cannot wait to deliver this within our communities.”
If you would like to bring quidditch to your school through one of our event days, training or equipment please contact us.
Alternatively if your school is interested in finding out more about Everton in the Community’s additional school sessions, including football and dance, please contact Mick King via email on michael.king@evertonfc.com.