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Strabane District Cage Soccer
10th August 2011
Strabane Community Safety Partnership, in conjunction with Strabane DPP, Strabane PSNI, and Strabane District Council’s Good Relations Department will be delivering Strabane Cage Soccer, a creative and innovative approach to tackling Anti Social Behaviour initially over the summer and thereafter throughout the year.
Cage Soccer is a football coaching session with emphasis on developing individual skills, special tricks, exhibition football and goal scoring techniques. It is suitable for boys and girls aged 8 to 17 years old. The football is played in a portable cage which is circular and 7.5m in diameter. The cage can be set up anywhere that is flat. Originating in the Netherlands, Cage football sees two teams of two battle it out in action packed games lasting 2 minutes. Up to 96 players can be accommodated per hour. It is designed to encourage players to play ‘Total Football’ helping them develop the skills that made the Dutch such a force in the 1970’s and 80’s. Cities have already used cage football as a way to change the community for the better in a bid to tackle street crime and gang culture.
Strabane Cage Soccer will be free to all who play and will help tackle Anti Social Behaviour in the Strabane District. The cage will be transported, erected and manned by Strabane Community Safety Wardens. Active community coaches will also be on site to provide free coaching. This summer Strabane Cage Soccer will go to 8 different locations throughout Strabane District. It is envisaged that the cage will be utilised a least 4 times per month throughout the rest of the year. It will also be available as a resource that can be deployed very quickly into areas that are experiencing ASB to combat the issues. The cage will be available for use by community organisations within Strabane District throughout the year. Strabane District Council will be the first Council in Northern Ireland to have Cage Soccer, as an invaluable tool to combat ASB.
Strabane Cage Soccer will be run in partnership with local communities, Stabane Community Safety Partnership, Strabane District Policing Partnership, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Strabane PSNI, Strabane District Council Sports Development and Strabane District Council Good Relations.
Councillor Patsy Kelly, Chairperson of Strabane Community Safety Partnership said: “We are always exploring new, creative ways of providing the young people of Strabane with positive activities that they can become involved in. Cage Soccer is an evolution of Midnight Street Soccer and allows young people to compete in teams of two players for prizes. As cage soccer expands in other areas of Northern Ireland local teams may have the opportunity to compete in regional tournaments”
PSNI Area Commander Chief Inspector Andy Lemon said: “The most common complaint we get from young people is that they have nothing to do, especially over the long summer holidays. This can often mean they hang about on the street and, while they may not be doing anything wrong, their presence can sometimes be unnerving for some residents.
Click here to see where the cage will be next
