By Danielle Kutchel
The next generation of youth leaders is ready to take on the world, after participating in a series of leadership activities at Casey Fields.
Melbourne City Football Club’s City in the Community division hosted a Young Leader Program at the sporting centre, where young people could grow their leadership skills, confidence and capacity through soccer.
Around 45 young people between the ages of 16 and 23, drawn mostly from the Casey and Greater Dandenong regions, were involved in the program.
It wrapped up on Friday 9 April after four days of guest speakers, drills and coaching opportunities – and Melbourne’s famous four seasons in one day.
But heavy rain on the final day did nothing to dampen the spirits of the participants.
On their final day, the young leaders were given a chance to put their new skills to the test, running drills for primary school-aged kids.
Although the downpour brought the activity to an early end, from the excited shrieks it was clear that everyone had had a ball.
Eighteen-year-old Liam self-nominated for the leadership program partly out of curiosity – as a “huge fan” of Melbourne City, he wanted to see the new playing and training venue at Casey Fields.
He left on Friday having picked up new skills in coaching younger kids and running drills for various age groups.
Currently based in Perth, the university student plans to move back to Melbourne to become more involved in programs like this.
“I’m really happy with the program,” he said.
Fifteen-year-old Rezwana, from Narre Warren South, had no plans for the school holidays and thought it would be “interesting” to join the Melbourne City program.
“I’ve learned how to be a coach and [teach] little kids … and how to be more confident and speak up and not be shy,” she said, adding that the program would help her with her subjects at school.
Cranbourne resident Hamayoon said he too had learned a lot about leadership over the four days.
Initially attracted by the soccer side of things, he said he has come away from the program with a more positive outlook.
“The best part was the drills because we learned from the guest speakers and coaches and got a chance to use it here today,” he said.
“At the end of the day, it’s not a football drill, it’s a fun drill.”
George Halkias, head of City in the Community, said the participants had excelled over the week.
“Today, they’ve been able to shine,” he said of their final activity, coaching school children.
‘We’ve done football coaching, worked on leadership, did event management … and prepared for the coaching together.
“The guys as team planned their session, talked about responsibility and the leadership required to work with kids.
“These kids are awesome – in three days, you can see a transformation.”
He said the leadership program had helped get the participants out of their comfort zone.
“We’ve instilled a bit of confidence and to get them out to schools to work with kids is no mean feat, they’ve been entrusted with something important so they’ve had to step up.”
He said City in the Community hopes to run similar programs in future, using sport as a vehicle to address issues like inclusion, gender equality, mental health and racism.
The programs would use young people – like those trained at Casey Fields – as agents of social change, allowing them to put into practise their new-found abilities as leaders.
“I think we opened their eyes to another world,” Mr Halkias said.
