With the goal of encouraging self-belief in the upcoming generation of youth, Marcus Rashford and Football Without Borders have teamed up to introduce the revolutionary “Play Forward” initiative.
The Play Forward curriculum, which leverages football to help 11 and 12 year olds realize their own superpowers, forge strong relationships, and dare to dream big, was developed by the FBB curriculum team in partnership with Marcus Rashford and Nike.
Together, Marcus and I unearthed his own pearl of wisdom for the next generation. A vast array of subjects are covered in the curriculum, including the importance of community, self-assurance and belief, objectives and visualization, strategies and tactics, and abilities. In our perfect world, any young person can thrive in traditional schooling if they have a trustworthy, relatable, and dependable adult in their lives. We are starting this journey with youth in Year 7 through Play Forward. Marcus said during the program:
It is an honor to have worked with the personnel of Nike and Football Beyond Borders to realize “Play Forward.” For a lot of years, I have been developing a plan for upcoming football players. “Play Forward” encourages cultivating an attitude of self-assurance and respecting each person’s innate talent. I am excited to see what each person performs.
Through our delivery partner, Manchester Young Lives, we teach Play Forward in two-hour weekly on/off-pitch sessions at community centers and FBB partner schools over the course of a 12-week program. At the end of every 12-week program, the young people are invited to a graduation ceremony where they can mingle, think back, and celebrate their journey.
Play Forward gives social emotional learning strategies top priority in order to assist youth in developing more decision-making, interpersonal, and emotional regulation skills. This is in line with our philosophy of transformation and supports young people transitioning to secondary school in realizing their academic and athletic potential.
We are grateful that Nike is funding our research with £1,000,000 spread over five years. The project is centered in Marcus Rashford’s hometown of Greater Manchester and will eventually expand to London and Birmingham, with a focus on impoverished communities.
