Ground Breaking Football Programme for Toddlers Launches in UAE

SOCATOTS Early Learning Scheme to Teach Critical Developmental Skills to Children as Young as Six Months

Dubai Sports City announces a strategic partnership with SOCATOTS – a fun and lively, soccer-specific physical play programme for children from six months to five years – to further encourage active and healthy lifestyles from an early age.

The SOCATOTS programme teaches basic ball skills, movement and co-ordination exercises in a fun and playful environment, and has proved hugely successful around the world as a great tool to encourage toddlers to take their first steps to fitness.

“Our partnership with SOCATOTS is part of Dubai Sports City’s overall vision to encourage sport across the UAE and help develop sporting skills at all ages – from infants to adults. We look forward to a successful partnership with SOCATOTS, one of the world’s best football programmes for toddlers, where we share the same belief: that no one is too young to learn,” said Khalid Zarooni, President, Dubai Sports City.

SOCATOTS is the brainchild of Simon Clifford, an English football coach who started the programme in the UK and used his academic knowledge of coaching and his teaching experience to develop his own coaching programme.

"What appealed to me about our Dubai Sports City partners was their complete belief in our programme and plans to take it to every pre-school child in the UAE. They understand how it benefits the child’s development physically, socially and emotionally and they are building a fantastic facility to house it in their world leading Academies Campus.  We coach over 1 million children in 61 countries and I'm sure the UAE will be right up there amongst the best," said Simon Clifford, the founder of SOCATOTS.

The courses extend far beyond just physical exercise, SOCATOTS aims to improve balance and co-ordination, further develop cognitive skills, enhance every muscle and bone development, increase self confidence, and demonstrate the benefits of keeping fit through a number of learning exercises.

Research has shown that children who are physically active from a young age are more likely to have better concentration skills in the classroom, and this is the philosophy that underpins the SOCATOTS programme.

“SOCATOTS is more than just a football programme. It is an innovative concept where children can learn and play through sport and at the same time strongly encourage parental involvement, resulting in the development of stronger bonds between parents and their children,” said Ekta Hutton, Assistant Academies Manager, Dubai Sports City.

“With SOCATOTS, no child is too young to learn, and through our qualified and dedicated teachers, each toddler can gain a unique, fun, and constructive learning experience through the course offerings. We are confident that the inaugural SOCATOTS programme, which we will launch in early 2009, will be a success with the local community and provide sound motor skills development for every child," added Hutton.

Many famous professional athletes are supporters of the SOCATOTS programme, including England and Everton's Andy Johnson and Gareth Southgate, Manager of Middlesborough.

The programme has already won praise from a squad of senior players and fitness professionals. Carlos Alberto, captain of the 1970 Brazilian World Cup winning side, said: “I cannot believe what I see with SOCATOTS. It is amazing, something completely different and very special. It will have so many benefits for football and for kids in general. Socially, physically and technically I can see this having such a positive influence for future generations across the world.

Founded in England, SOCATOTS is now available in many different countries around the world, including Holland, Singapore, and Canada. The programme has received huge acclaim, to include having been voted the Best Football Activity at the What's On 4 Little Ones Awards (UK) 2008.

About SOCATOTS

SOCATOTS® is the world's first soccer specific physical play programme for children from six months to school age. Aimed at giving children their very first start with the ball, SOCATOTS® was developed by Simon Clifford and is a truly unique programme.

SOCATOTS® uses soccer or football as our medium and of course a child attending SOCATOTS® will greatly develop their skills in this area, however SOCATOTS® is about a great deal more than just developing a child's affinity and control with the ball, it is about giving them a well-rounded start in their physical, social and educational development and developing the 'whole child'.

The benefits of taking part in SOCATOTS® go far beyond just the physical and research shows that children who are physically active from a young age are more likely to concentrate better in the classroom. Add this to SOCATOTS® focus on educational and social development as well as physical and soccer specific skills and you can see that SOCATOTS® really does give a great start to children.
All SOCATOTS® equipment is specially designed for children to develop physical skills of agility, balance and co-ordination, from skittles, hoops and bean bags to balance boards and balls specially designed by Mitre. Each activity is intended to improve motor skills and to do so in a fun, creative and safe way.

SOCATOTS® sessions are led by staff who have undergone comprehensive and regular SOCATOTS® training courses. This training covers the theory and background behind the SOCATOTS® philosophy as well as the core skills, exercises and games for all 3 phases. All SOCATOTS® staff have undergone full training in Child Protection, Health and Safety and possess the relevant First Aid qualifications for working with young children. SOCATOTS® is a registered body with the Criminal Records Bureau and all SOCATOTS® staff have successfully undergone enhanced Disclosure checks.

About Dubai Sports City Football Facility

The Dubai Sports City Football facility is a unique centre of soccer excellence, providing elite facilities to cater to a full range of abilities and ages. Housed within the Dubai Sports City Football Academy campus, the purpose-built facility hosts programmes which include the well known Manchester United Soccer Schools and SOCATOTS, the world's first soccer specific physical play programme for children.

About Dubai Sports City:

Dubai Sports City (DSC), the cornerstone project of Dubailand, is a $4 billion, 50 million square feet mixed-use development which will be the world’s first integrated purpose-built sports city.

The development will be built around five major sports venues and feature a series of major sports academy facilities. For further information, please visit www.dubaisportscity.com.