ENGLAND’S WOMEN’S TEAM LEVERAGE STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN FOOTBALL TO TEACH THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE BALL

Louise Innocent / 10 May 2022 / Categories: News

In the build-up to UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, students from schools across Sheffield took part in an interactive STEM Football Festival held at English Institute of Sport on Wednesday 4^th May. 

The day comprised multiple activities, each carefully designed to enrich the school curriculum, aiming to inspire a new generation of footballers, whilst exploring the science behind the ball and challenging perceptions around women and girls’ football. 

Students from Sheffield Park Academy in Sheffield were given the chance to learn about the role biology, maths and physics play in the success of an elite sports team and benefited from meeting inspiring role models from The Football Association and Sheffield United Ladies. 

Students also had the opportunity to create and submit competition entries to push for equal access to football in a response to a call from the England Women’s football team to #ChangeTheGame.  

Year 8 student La’Shay said: “I had a great day. We had a go at some football skills, and got to find out how data analysts, physios and coaches use science in their jobs”.   

Mrs Pleasance, Head of Technology at Sheffield Park Academy said: “The STEM Football Festival allowed students to see science, technology, engineering and maths in a different light. It’s been so useful to use a context such as football to help students explore sometimes complex topics”

To complement the festivals and draw on the excitement of the forthcoming UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 The FA has created a new national schools’ education programme featuring members of the England Women’s team. The Key Stage 3 STEM and PSHE resource pack brings alive, for girls and boys, the wide range of skills and roles involved in elite football. 

Donna McIvor, Senior Women’s Football Development Manager at The Football Association, said: “Science, technology, engineering and maths, collectively known as STEM subjects, are vital to the England Women’s team – in terms of training and match day performance. It is great to bring this to life and to see young people leaving the STEM Football Festival feeling more than ever that choosing to study these subjects could open career opportunities they may never have previously known about.” 

Ben Cartledge, CEO of the 1851 Trust adds: “The 1851 Trust has enjoyed creating this programme, and is delighted to be working with students in Sheffield. We’re gearing up for an exciting summer of sport and EURO 2022 is an incredibly motivating real-life example of the application of STEM in action.” 

All schools are able to access additional related learning resources on STEM Crew to build on students’ enthusiasm during UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 this summer.   

For more details, visit: www.stemcrew.org/englandwomen