CAS Blog – Teaching Kids Football at Bal Mela

Spending the day at Bal Mela was a completely new and exciting experience for me. I had the opportunity to teach little kids how to shoot a football into a goal, which turned out to be both fun and challenging. It wasn’t just about kicking a ball, I had to figure out how to explain things in a way that young kids would understand. This event helped me improve my communication and leadership skills, and it also gave me a better understanding of patience and teamwork.

LO1: Identify Own Strengths and Develop Areas for Growth

At first, I wasn’t sure how to interact with the kids or how to make them interested in learning football. I realized that explaining things simply and using examples and demonstrations helped them understand better. As I kept teaching, I became more confident and understood how to adjust my instructions based on how each child was responding. This experience showed me that I still have a lot to learn about teaching, but it also helped me discover that I enjoy guiding others.

LO2: Demonstrate That Challenges Have Been Undertaken, Developing New Skills

One of the biggest challenges was getting the kids to stay focused and engaged. Some were excited, while others were shy or easily distracted. I had to learn how to grab their attention and make learning fun. I used games and encouragement to keep them interested, and over time, they started enjoying the activity. By the end of the day, I had developed better communication and leadership skills, which will definitely help me in the future.

LO3: Demonstrate How to Initiate and Plan a CAS Experience

Even though I didn’t organize the event itself, I had to plan how I would teach the kids. I quickly realized that just telling them what to do wouldn’t work—I had to break things down into simple steps and demonstrate each movement. I also made sure to give each child personal attention so they could improve. This experience taught me that even in small situations, a little bit of planning makes a huge difference in how things turn out.

LO4: Show Commitment and Perseverance in CAS Experience

Throughout the event, I kept my energy and patience high, even when the kids were struggling or losing interest. It was tiring, but I made sure to stay committed to helping each child learn. Some took longer to get the hang of kicking the ball properly, but I kept encouraging them until they succeeded. Seeing their excitement when they finally scored a goal made all the effort worth it. This experience reinforced the importance of not giving up and staying positive.

LO5: Demonstrate the Skills and Recognize the Benefits of Working Collaboratively

Teaching football wasn’t something I could do alone. I worked alongside other volunteers, and we had to communicate and coordinate to make sure all the kids got enough attention. If one of us was struggling to teach a particular child, another would step in to help. This teamwork made the experience much smoother and more enjoyable. It showed me how collaboration leads to better results, especially in group activities like teaching or coaching.

LO6: Demonstrate Engagement with Issues of Global Significance

This experience reminded me how sports play a huge role in child development worldwide. Many children don’t get proper access to physical activities, even though sports help improve health, teamwork, and confidence. Events like Bal Mela give kids the chance to explore new activities, stay active, and learn important life skills. This made me realize how something as simple as teaching football can have a meaningful impact on children’s growth and well-being.

LO7: Recognize and Consider the Ethics of Choices and Actions

Fairness and encouragement were really important during this event. I made sure to treat all the kids equally, giving them the same amount of time and attention. If one child was struggling, I didn’t ignore them—I made sure to help them improve at their own pace. It would have been easier to focus only on the kids who were good at football, but I realized that true sportsmanship means giving everyone a fair chance to learn and enjoy.

Conclusion

Bal Mela was a great learning experience that taught me how to communicate, be patient, and work as a team. Teaching kids wasn’t always easy, but it was really rewarding to see them smile and enjoy learning football. This event helped me grow in many ways, and I now appreciate even more how sports and education can bring people together and create a positive impact.