Enhancing Child Development with Grassroots Football: Exploring A Coach's Challenges and Achievements

Abstract

UNESCO and UNICEF strongly support the use of sports (e.g., grassroots football) as a means to promote the development and empowerment of children and youth. Purpose: The article delves into the challenges and achievements of a specific coach in Butuan City, Philippines, as they strive to foster the holistic development of children through grassroots football. This study is a case study to understand how selected coach navigate the complex landscape of developing children through grassroots football in the community. The study utilized narrative inquiry in qualitative, using semi-structured interview guide, photographs, observation, life history and other artifacts. We  also used convenient sampling underpinned by others corroborate literature review. The findings revealed eight areas of interview guide results that were revealed, Background Information, Approach and Philosophy, Balance technical and tactical, Challenges in Grassroots football, How to overcome, Achievement/Success, Collaboration with Other Coaches, Enhanced ability to develop the whole child. It was concluded that grassroots sports events foster community engagement, social cohesion, and trust, leading to sustainable impact on social capital. It promote collaboration, teamwork, and social support, strengthening community bonds and development among coaches and children. Investing in such initiatives can have long-term benefits for social progress