Football
Sessions
5-a-side and small-sided games every Saturday afternoon on the outdoor pitch at Harris Chobham Academy, Stratford. Open to all abilities, from first-timers to regulars. Ages 7–11.
When
Saturdays 3:00–4:30 PM. Term time and school holidays. 14 spaces, booking recommended.
Where
Outdoor 3G pitch at Harris Chobham Academy, Stratford.
Who it's for
Open to all registered members aged 7 to 11. Completely free. Refreshments available at every session. All abilities welcome. No experience required.
Venue
Harris Chobham Academy
Harris Chobham Academy, 40 Cheering Lane, East Village, London, E20 1BD
Programme detail
What is included
Foundation skills
Young people develop dribbling, passing, receiving and shooting, while building an understanding of space, teamwork and decision-making on the pitch.
Advanced skills
We develop young people further with controlling the ball with both feet, simple passing accuracy and basic movement into space.
Skills under pressure
The programme combines skills under match conditions, including dribbling past opponents, choosing when to pass or shoot, and applying simple defending techniques such as tracking a player and intercepting passes.
Saturdays · Harris Chobham Academy
What we play at outdoor football
Sharks & Minnows
Dribble across the pitch without losing your ball to the Sharks.
Stuck in the Mud
Get tagged and freeze. A teammate passes through your legs to free you!
Traffic Lights
Green = sprint, Yellow = walk, Red = stop. React fast and keep your head up!
Relay Races
Dribble through cones, pull off a step-over, and race back to tag your teammate.
Led by young people
Youth-led ball control drills
Once a month our football session hands the whistle over. A small group of our older members plans and runs a ball control station for the rest of the group, with a coach stepping back to support rather than lead. It is one of the ways young people at Youth Active build confidence, communication and leadership, not just football skills.
The young leaders pick the drills, demonstrate each one, set up the cones and give feedback as their teammates work through the station. Everything stays simple and repeatable so every player, from first-timer to regular, gets plenty of touches.
Close control gates
Dribble slowly through a line of narrow cone gates using small touches with the inside and outside of both feet, keeping the ball within a stride at all times.
First touch and turn
Receive a pass from a young leader, cushion it away from pressure with one touch, then turn and pass back. Swap roles so everyone leads a rep.
Sole rolls and stops
Roll the ball side to side with the sole of the foot, then stop it dead on a leader’s call. Builds balance, coordination and a calm head on the ball.
Head-up control
Keep the ball moving in a small area while the young leader holds up numbers on their fingers to call out. Encourages players to look up while controlling the ball.
Harris Chobham Academy
Football in pictures
Why it matters
More than just sport
Stay active
Regular physical activity improves mood, sleep, focus and energy. Our sessions make it easy and fun to build that habit.
Build teamwork
Working together, communicating under pressure and supporting teammates. Skills that go way beyond the pitch.
Make friends
Football is one of the best ways to meet people. Our sessions bring together young people from across the area.
Build confidence
Whether it's scoring a goal, making a great pass or just turning up, every win matters and our team celebrates all of them.
Pick a session
Book your spot
Saturdays · Harris Chobham Academy
Football
Availability
Ages 7–11.