As Kick It Out coach developers, the pair run workshops to help grassroots coaches create more welcoming environments in football.
Coach developer sessions are being delivered in partnership with McDonalds Fun Football and have been developed to improve the standard of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion coaching development materials offered to current grassroots coaches.
Through interactive discussions, real-life case studies, and practical tips, the sessions encourage coaches to reflect and find ways to make their teams more inclusive, both on and off the pitch.
Latif, a Kick It Out Coach Educator for the South Region, has seen how these workshops are making a real difference. Coaches have told him they’re now more mindful of the language they use and more focused on ensuring every member of their teams feels included.
“We work with coaches to help them understand how their language and unconscious biases can affect others and to give them the tools to create a more inclusive culture at their clubs,” Latif explains.
“People often have good intentions but might not realise how their words or actions impact their teams. Our sessions are a safe space where coaches can make mistakes, learn, and develop the skills to create an inclusive environment.”
For Alvaro Castano, founder of The A Academy, the workshop was a game-changer.
“The Kick It Out Inclusion Workshop, delivered to our coaching staff at The A Academy by Yas, was an eye-opening and empowering session. Yas’s expertise and passion for fostering inclusion in football made the workshop both engaging and deeply impactful.
“The session provided our team with a comprehensive understanding of key issues such as discrimination, unconscious bias, and the importance of creating equitable environments within the sport.
“Yas’s ability to present these complex topics in a relatable and practical manner ensured that all participants could connect with the content and see its relevance to our work.”
Similarly, Azza Shakib from Portsmouth & Southsea Futsal Club praised the workshop’s approach.
“Yas was brilliant with our team, delivering an educational and engaging workshop on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. We’d highly recommend this workshop to everyone in the industry.”
The coach developer workshops delivered by Kick It Out are part of a wider initiative in partnership with McDonalds Fun Football, which also includes funding coaching bursaries to support aspiring coaches who are unable to finance their coaching qualifications.
