SOCATOTS, a new scheme to teach young children vital co-ordination and numeracy skills using football basics, is to be launched today (Monday 8 March).

It is the brainchild of the International Confederation of Futebol de Salão (ICFDS) which has already brought Brazilian-style football coaching to more than 400 schools across the UK through its Brazilian Soccer Schools.

SOCATOTS is aimed at children from the time they start walking until the age of five and teaches basic soccer skills, co-ordination and flexibility. It also includes games designed to help children learn about numbers, letters, colours and shapes.

Janine Smith, spokesperson for ICFDS, said: “We have worked with physical educationalists, sport scientists and some of the best footballers in the world to develop SOCATOTS.

“I believe we now have the perfect programme for this age group and it’s going to be very interesting to see how these youngsters develop.”

The scheme has been three years in development and is now ready to be rolled out across the country on a franchise basis, following a pilot scheme in a Leeds school.

All franchisees will receive special training from SOCATOTS and do not have to be footballers.

Initially, 20 sites have been found to host the sessions including church halls, youth clubs, nurseries and sports centres and children can sign up for a course of around six weeks.

“The scheme is being set up by the people behind Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) with the aim that in the future we will have far more co-ordinated, balanced and skilful five-year-olds who will then join BSS so we can make an even bigger impact on football here,” said Smith.

“AT BSS we now have six players in the England Youth Team and around 800 of our players have gone on to professional club academies.” Details: email [email protected]