Meet our Burleigh coaches!

We asked Coach Colin, who is the lead coach at our Burleigh venue, to tell us a bit about himself and his role with Little Kickers -

"Hi my name is Colin Moore, I immigrated from Northern Ireland to Gold Coast in December 2010. I commenced my playing career as a young boy at local soccer clubs and by the age of 16 years old I was playing at a semi-professional level for Ballymena United Football Club in the Northern Irish Premier Division. Following a successful and lengthy playing career, I retired from playing competitively and began coaching soccer to both children, adults and persons with disabilities. I have completed my coaching badges and training with the Irish Football association, which are accredited by UEFA. I thoroughly enjoy passing on my skills and knowledge of the game to young people and feel a great sense of achievement and satisfaction as I watch their skills develop and abilities progress. I have been coaching soccer in Australia for several months, and working with Little Kickers has been fun, exciting and a fulfilling experience. I look forward to seeing the organisation grow in the up and coming months, and many future "socceroos" being produced."

Kicking along next to Coach Colin, is Coach James, our assistant coach at Burleigh. This is what Coach James told us -

"Ever since I can remember my life has revolved around playing football. I started coaching at 15 with Primary School children and have been coaching at Little Kickers since the start of this year. The eagerness and excitement on the children's faces as they run through the door to learn new skills and form friendships makes my job enjoyable and rewarding. Little Kickers sessions are all about having fun while progressing in football from a very young age."

If you would like to have your first free trial lesson, or if you would like to enrol your little kicker into one of our Burleigh classes, the class times are :

Junior Kickers - 8am & 10am
Mighty Kickers - 9am & 11am

Contact Abbey at goldcoast@littlekickers.com.au for bookings and more information.

Meet a Little Kicker...

Name -

Isla

Age -
4 in June

Venues of Little Kickers around the world attended -
Gold Coast Southport

How long have you been coming to Little Kickers?
3 months

What is your favourite Little Kickers game?
Kicking goals and running

What do you like best about Little Kickers?
Coach Amanda and Coach Haydn



What do you want to be when you grow up?
Doctor

What's your favourite healthy food?
Apple/Banna

Who is your favourite coach?
Coach Amanda

What do you love?
Mummy and Daddy and ice-cream

Your Mum and/or Dad's perspective on Little Kickers -
Brilliant brilliant brilliant. It teaches children to share, listen and follow direction and instills confidence whilst in a fun environment. Isla would not allow me to sit down for the first 4 weeks but with the assistance and support of Coach Amanda we now have a change and very confident young girl! Thanks and recommend Little Kickers to every parent to try as their little girls will love it!

Launching Little Kicks - 18 months to 2 years 5 months

Setting off at a light trot, the most pressing priority with Little Kicks is something we refer to as 'learning to learn'. Simple problem-solving activities provides the perfect informal framework for encouraging our fledging Socceroos to advance their basic attention building and listening skills.

By playing fun games that includes specific actions and movements children gain greater bodily control whilst simultaneously enhancing their blossoming balancing, co-ordination and gross motor skills. Aside from learning how to strike stationary and moving soccer balls during directional play, children and parents also get the early opportunity to share those first unforgettable, goal-scoring adventures.

In essence, Little Kicks provides a fun, safe learning environment where your child will be encouraged to move from parent-supported participation to active, independent interaction.

Little Kicks will take place inside and is for 18 months to 2 years 5 months. This class is at our Southport venue on Saturday's at 10am. If you would like a space in this class please let us know ASAP by either phone, email or facebook.

Meet a Little Kicker...

Name -
Jake & Zack (brothers)

Age -
Jake : 4
Zack : 2

Venues of Little Kickers around the world attended -
Gold Coast Southport

How long have you been coming to Little Kickers?
Jake : 6 months
Zack : 3 months

What is your favourite Little Kickers game?
Jake : Everything we play
Zack : Free time to kick around with my friends



What do you like best about Little Kickers?
Jake : Goal kicking
Zack : Goal kicking

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Jake : Paleontologists (dinosaurs)
Zack : Accountant or Lawyer

What's your favourite healthy food?
Jake : Carrots
Zack : Watermelon

Who is your favourite coach?
Jake : Coach Amanda (Southport)
Zack : Coach Amanda (Southport)

What do you love?
Jake : My Mum & Dad, my brother Zack & Bella (my dog)
Zack : My brother Jake

Meet a Little Kicker...

Name -
Summer

Age -
Nearly 3

Venues of Little Kickers around the world attended -
Gold Coast Southport & Burleigh

How long have you been coming to Little Kickers?
6 months

What is your favourite Little Kickers game?
Kicking goals

What do you like best about Little Kickers?
My new runners

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A good girl

What's your favourite healthy food?
Watermelon

Who is your favourite coach?
Coach Colin (Burleigh)

What do you love?
Riding my scooter and mollies (lollies)

Meet a Little Kicker...

Rhyder attended Junior Kickers in the UK from early 2007 to the end of 2008. He then moved up to Mighty Kickers in the UK from 2008 to 2010. He then moved to Australia and continued on with Mighty Kickers from September to November. Now he is looking forward to doing Mega Kickers from the end of April 2011 in Southport.

Name -
Rhyder

Age -
5

Venues of Little Kickers around the world attended -
St Albans Hertfordshire UK, Gold Coast Australia Southport & Pacific Pines

How long have you been coming to Little Kickers?
Since I was 2. I did Junior Kickers & Mighty Kickers in St Albans England with Coach Peter, Coach Jamie & Coach Elder and my friends Sam (picture above) & Joel. Then when we moved to Australia I did Mighty Kickers with Coach Amanda and Coach Daddy.

What is your favourite Little Kickers game?
The pirate treasure that Coach Daddy plays

What do you like best about Little Kickers?
Doing drop kicks & learning with my friends

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A football player (soccer) for Australia!

What’s your favourite healthy food?
Grapes

Who is your favourite coach?
Coach Daddy (Coach Brad at Pacific Pines)

What do you love?
My mummy, kit kats, chocolate & cup cakes!

Meet our Pacific Pines coaches!

Want to know more about our coaches at the Pacific Pines venue? Then do read on...

We asked Coach Brad, who is the owner and also the lead coach at Pacific Pines, to tell us a little story about himself and Little Kickers. Here's what Brad had to say -

"After taking my son Rhyder along to Little Kickers each weekend in the UK for two & a half years, I saw how much he and his friends enjoyed it and how their skills not only with the football but social & gross motor skills also developed. I could see that Little Kickers was a well run, professional company that really cared about that safety and enjoyment of their students.

Abbey had just given birth to our daughter Kalaih, and as Rhyder was now nearing school age we both decided it was time to move back home to the Gold Coast. After enquiring with Little Kickers Australia about starting a new franchise on the Gold Coast, we thought it was a great opportunity to provide the same positive experience to kids at home on the coast that we had received in the UK.

Since starting Little Kickers last year I never realised just how much I would enjoy being a coach. Seeing the children light up each Saturday morning as they walk in the hall in their Little Kickers uniforms and jumping for joy with a high five when they score a goal is awesome. I love watching the children develop each week and how their parents are so proud of what they are achieving.

Every week is different and no child is the same which can be a challenge some times, but I would not change it for anything. I have never had so much fun in my life!"

Kicking along, right beside Coach Brad, is Coach Ellen, our assistant coach at Pacific Pines. Here's what Ellen told us -

"Hello, my name is Ellen Cowie a.k.a Coach Ellen. I am 22 years old and have only been living on the Gold Coast for 7 months. I moved away from my family in Coffs Harbour last August and now live in Southport with 3 other girls. We all get along well and have lots of fun together. I have just completed a Bachelor of Education Degree (Primary) and I have also just returned from teaching English in a University in Thailand, which was one of the most amazing experiences of my life to date. I've played soccer for about 15 years, as well as doing bits of coaching and refereeing. I love soccer!

Since October, 2010, my Saturday mornings have been consumed by Little Kickers and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Just a few reasons why I love coaching Little Kickers include:
- The kids are gorgeous, so much fun, enthusiastic and they all have their own quirks and personalities.
- It is so rewarding to watch the kids grow and develop their skills. Over the last couple of months I’ve noticed the children’s listening skills, communication skills, social skills, soccer skills, basic motor skills and self-control have improved so much! It’s also heart-warming to see how much their self-confidence has increased and to watch the friendships that have been built and strengthened.
- Every week is different! Some weeks are smooth sailing, other weeks are challenging. The things that the kids say and do some weeks bring a smile to my face and make me laugh. I always arrive back at home with good stories to share. I’m always learning new things, never am I bored or uninterested and never do I know what I’m in for!

Little Kickers is such a great organisation and I’m so happy to be working for and with such wonderful people, parents and children. I just hope that everyone gets as much out of my presence as I do from theirs."

If you would like to have your first free trial lesson, or enrol your little kicker into one of our Pacific Pines classes, class times are :

Junior Kickers - 8am & 10am
Mighty Kickers - 9am & 11am

Contact Abbey at goldcoast@littlekickers.com.au.