History of Gimme 5s

Gimme 5s is a program initiated by Stewart Hamer a UEFA Level 3 Licensed coach and coach educator. The "Gimme5s" program started during Euro 2004 and has seen in excess of 300 children up to the age of five years old gain confidence with a ball through simple fun exercises which also develop their communication skills with the other children. "Absolutely zero pressure to perform is put on these young children" says Stewart Hamer, a licensed UEFA 'B' coach. "If anything, the only pressure put on them is the encouragement to use both their hands and both their feet in equal amounts as they control a ball". Sir Trevor Brooking(pictured left), the FA's Director of Football Development visited a "Gimme 5s" session on 13th February 2008. He commented that it was good to see every single youngster with their own ball at their feet and being encouraged to have fun. Everything that is done compliments the FA philosophy on young player development. We use a coaching ratio of one coach to five children and the children improve their skills without ever realising it. They are simply having fun playing at being spacemen with meteorites (small balls) or simply using their legs to control an imaginary puppy on an imaginary lead. We set up simple exercises and the children use their own imagination to make things become a reality. The progress of the young children is also a testimony to the skill and patience of some very good young coaching staff, all of whom have gained at least the FA Level 1 coaching badge. Some have now progressed and achieved their Level 2 UEFA 'B' Coaching Certificate. Something unique about this program is that once they are heading for School Year 1 the parents are offered full junior membership of Sale United Football Club. In that way there is a comfortable exit route from Gimme 5s into junior football where all the coaching staff will be familiar to them. Some of the children who attended in the early days of the program in June 2004 have progressed to professional Club's Centres of Excellence which in itself is proof that it is an effective program. In fact less than twelve months after progressing from Gimme 5s into Sale United, three of our players are now training regularly with either Manchester City or Manchester United.