FIFA school soccer program is now in Canada, starting in the N.W.T.

FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) has come to Canada, with a pilot program in the N.W.T. already underway and offering coach training. 

The program aims to make soccer more accessible by helping implement it into the education system. According to a news release, it'll provide the N.W.T. with around $70,000 and 2,000 new soccer balls.

The program also includes an online learning platform. It first launched in 2019, including pilot projects in Puerto Rico and Lebanon.

This week in Yellowknife, teachers and coaches are heading to the Fieldhouse to sharpen their soccer skills and participate in workshops alongside organizers from FIFA — soccer's world governing body — and Canada Soccer employees.

F4S manager Antonio Buenano Sanchez says a big part of the program's mission is to bring people together through the sport.

"Every boy and girl across the world should have the opportunity to play football, that was the first idea of the program," said Sanchez.

Sanchez added that the program was developed to not only include soccer skills but life skills as well. Those are implemented by having workshops focused on behaviour and attitude. 

The decision to launch the Canadian program in the North is similar to what's been done elsewhere. Sanchez said they tend to look to areas outside the big cities and focus more on smaller or remote areas. He said Yellowknife is northernmost location yet for the program.

"We think that starting with a 'football for school' course in the N.W.T. will really help to promote and to create awareness that everyone deserves an opportunity to play football and enjoy the game," he said.

After the program organizers leave, teachers will be left with new skills to bring back to school.

Ian Cockburn is a teacher at École William McDonald Middle School. He felt inspired after the morning workshops on Tuesday and was already looking forward to bringing what he learnt into his sessions next week.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the fact that people are here to help invest some time and energy, and their experience into what N.W.T. soccer has to offer," said Cockburn.

Teachers and coaches were also shown a FIFA app to refer to in the future, that includes different drill and exercise examples. 

On Thursday, the program will wrap up in Yellowknife with a chance for participants to show off what they've learnt. Around 60 kids have been invited to come participate at the Fieldhouse. 

"They're very excited. The second that I dropped 'FIFA' they kinda all lost it — so yeah, they're very excited to come to learn and participate in this program," Cockburn added.