2nd edition of the “Orlik Academy” begins
The objective of the programme “My sports field – ORLIK 2012” is to build general-access, free of charge sports fields with changing rooms and sanitary facilities in all Polish municipalities.
Almost 1300 sports facilities have already been built throughout the country under the programme “My sports field – ORLIK 2012”, prepared by our Ministry – said Adam Giersz, Minister of Sport and Tourism. In May of this year, as many as 100 “Orlik” sports fields will host the 2nd edition of the “Orlik Academy”, a football training programme targeting children between 6 and 8. The aim of the project is to encourage as many young children as possible to take up regular sports training and to identify boys and girls with sports talent. We also want to support local governments in organizing professionally run sports classes for children.
The pilot edition of the “Orlik Academy” had 300 young participants on 11 sports fields in four voivodeships: Dolnośląskie, Łódzkie, Mazowieckie and Pomorskie.
The response of children and parents to the first edition of the “Orlik Academy” was clear evidence that participation of even very young children in organized sports classes may be very rewarding.
The classes are conducted according to a special “Orlik Academy” training programme, by professional football coaches with pedagogic background which is so crucial when working with such young footballers.
This year’s “Orlik Academy” will begin with a series of Family Sports Picnics to be held in Poznań (May 15th), Katowice (May 22nd), Szczecin (May 29th) and Kielce (June 12th). During the Picnics, children born between 2002 and 2004 will be able to take fitness tests that will determine their eligibility for the subsequent stages of the “Orlik Academy”. Tests will also be conducted in all other cities and towns that have decided to participate in the programme.
The test results will reveal which children will qualify for the “Orlik Holidays” to be organized in August. The best and most persevering participants will take part in a 10 month football training course during the 2010/2011 school year. Orlik Academy graduates will be invited to continue training in local football clubs.
The “Orlik Academy” programme is being implemented in cooperation with Bank Zachodni WBK. Many thanks to Mateusz Morawiecki, the bank’s CEO, for providing financial support for the project. Thanks also to Dariusz Dziekanowski, Chairman of the Polish Ex-Footballers Association which actively participates in the programme.
The programme is financed exclusively by BZ WBK (about PLN 2 million per year). The Ministry provides more sports equipment to those Orlik facilities which have decided to take part in the programme (about 100 Orlik facilities from across Poland).
– As a sponsor of the national football team, we have decided to support efforts to find and train football talents – said Mateusz Morawiecki, CEO of Bank Zachodni WBK. However, it is also important to encourage as many children as possible to be physically active.
Thanks to the Bank’s involvement, participation in training sessions is free of charge. Bank Zachodni WBK, the organizer of the “Orlik Academy”, provides sports equipment and sportswear for all participating children and funds the preparation of all the coaches.