Qatar Shell and Koora Time’s long-time host, Aspire Academy, have inked a new agreement to introduce the ‘Football Skills Methodology’, an 18-week long programme specifically designed by Aspire Academy for kids who join the initiative at entry-level.
The new methodology follows a gradual progression system by adding additional elements of football training as children acquire new skills, such as ball handling, team play and goal scoring.
In line with the agreement, Aspire Academy will deliver a coaching Seminar for all the Koora Time coaches before the programme kicks off. Coaches from Aspire Academy will introduce them to the new methodology, and educate trainers on how to organise sessions and adapt training techniques to different circumstances to maximise the activation time of participants.
The signing of the three-year agreement took place on December 10 at Aspire Academy. The signing ceremony brought together Andrew Faulkner, Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell, and Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy.
Commenting on the deal, Faulkner said, “This is another proud moment in our Koora Time journey. I’m pleased that Aspire Academy joins this impactful initiative. Throughout the last 7 years, we have been able to inspire over 100,000 youth, supporting the State of Qatar’s wider sports revolution, and the next chapter in our story will ensure we continue to offer an attractive platform that many other children can benefit from for the foreseeable future.”
From his side, Bravo stressed that Aspire Academy’s re-engagement with Koora Time reflects its commitment to sharing its know-how and expertise in youth coaching to further advance the adoption of a healthy lifestyle among youth in Qatar, as one of the academy’s missions to promote healthy lifestyles within Qatar society”.
“Our state-of-the-art facilities, multicultural coaching staff and employees, and continuous strong collaboration and strategic partnership with Qatar Football Association and Qatar Shell, position Aspire Academy as the ideal partner for the Koora Time programme,” he noted.
The addition of a new component, along with the existing ‘Healthy Living Methodology’, will help develop the sustainable initiative that has improved the health and wellbeing of over 100,000 youth across Qatar, since its inception in 2012.
In recognition of its positive impact on the health of youth, Koora Time has won 12 awards locally and internationally. In 2019, Koora Time earned three internationally acclaimed awards, the latest of which is its fourth Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Dream Asia Award in October, received in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In season 7, 95% of participants improved their Body Mass Index (BMI), an internationally recognised measure of height and weight, using nutritional education and other support to ensure a healthy lifestyle and well-being.
This sustainable initiative between Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell, Koora Time, is based on FC Barcelona Foundation’s FutbolNet methodology, and provides children with an extra 72 hours of extra-curricular physical education per year.
To find out more about Koora Time, or to register your child for the award-winning and impactful programme, please visit www.kooratime.qa.
Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell Andrew Faulkner (left) with Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy.
