Heart of Midlothian Football Club
play the Scottish Premier League. That
status may soon be taken away due to
the COVID-19 situation.
The SPFL using a points for game
average have determined that Hearts
will be relegated. Although four points
away from safety, there were still eight
games to play, who can say the Jam tarts
would not have gathered enough points
to maintain their survival? While the
situation is very sad for Hearts an area
they can be very proud of is their
community department and in
particular their ‘ Play the game’ program.
The Play The game program is entering
it’s fourth year and TFSM caught up with
Hearts Head of Community Alan “Chalky’
White to learn more.
Alan 'Chalky White
Head of Community
Development
Chalky how did the program come about.
Well, I had been involved in coach education for over twenty
years in my role as a football development officer and was heavily
involved in grassroots football but it was not until I became a
football dad that it hit me like a juggernaut. I was watching my
friends take the training sessions and games that my lad was
involved in. These people were very well intended, all wanting the
kids to do well and enjoy themselves. But watching I felt it was all
a bit prescriptive and I felt the kids were being joystick controlled
to a certain extent.
What was you thinking as you were watching?
I was regularly attending training sessions on a Tuesday and
Thursday, and I thought the sessions were not as child oriented
as they could be and a little bit boring. I thought the kids could be
more engaged if I am being totally honest. They players were not
being challenged to use their own imagination and coming up
with their own solutions. So the first thing I thought of is how
could I help.