Story added: 8th February 2023

Adam's Story – PL Kicks

Thirteen-year-old Adam has been a regular attendee of our Premier League Kicks programme for over a year.

Before joining the Kicks programme, Adam wasn’t enjoying school or sports and felt disconnected from his peers.

Identifying this, Adam felt he needed to push through some personal barriers to improve his social life and his well-being. Adam was subsequently encouraged by his teachers and two of his friends to join PL Kicks after learning he could play football and contribute to his community.

From the get-go, Adam was able to enjoy his football on a regular basis and set himself some targets to improve his skills alongside the staff’s recommendations. These not only included football skill targets but also targets around improving sleep, diet, fitness, and confidence building.

PL Kicks Manager, Rupert Appleton, commented on Adam’s progression with Kicks:

“Since attending Kicks, Adam has developed into a great football player for his age and has also shown keen interest in community-based activities, volunteering for every possible event we hold”.

Some of the extra-curricular events Adam has attended this past 6 months include the ‘Youth Voice’ steering group, where he was very vocal with his opinions on what is great and what could improve Kicks. He has also been involved in reward days, sustainability events such as the recent orchard planting at The Nest and representing Norwich City at Kicks fixtures.

Rupert continued:

“One of the most obvious ways Adam has developed is his footballing ability. Adam instigated the rule of “if you kick it over the fence, you give the other team a goal”, encouraging more discipline when taking a shot at a goal”.

Adam’s progression has been clear. He has taken ownership of his sleeping, diet, and his mental health. He has also worked on his interpersonal skills such as confidence, leadership, and teamwork, which has resulted in him earning the title of ‘Kicks ambassador’, where he can become a positive role model for others as he displays all the correct behaviours, attitudes, and respect. 

When speaking to Adam, he told us:

“My sleeping pattern has improved & I feel better about my mental health and well-being.”  

He also enjoys “the rules we play and the high intensity”. 

Adam continues to be one of the most enthusiastic and engaged participants of the Kicks programme and steering group, where we expect him to continue to share constructive ideas. Adam will also feature in our future events and will pioneer our new sustainability campaign “Protect the Planet”.