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SOCATOTS Early Learning Scheme to Teach Critical Developmental Skills to Children as Young as Six Months
 
 
Dubai Sports City announces a strategic partnership with SOCATOTS – a fun and lively, soccer-specific physical play programme for children from six months to five years – to further encourage active and healthy lifestyles from an early age.
The SOCATOTS programme teaches basic ball skills, movement and co-ordination exercises in a fun and playful environment, and has proved hugely successful around the world as a great tool to encourage toddlers to take their first steps to fitness.
“Our partnership with SOCATOTS is part of Dubai Sports City’s overall vision to encourage sport across the UAE and help develop sporting skills at all ages – from infants to adults. We look forward to a successful partnership with SOCATOTS, one of the world’s best football programmes for toddlers, where we share the same belief: that no one is too young to learn,” said Khalid Zarooni, President, Dubai Sports City.
SOCATOTS is the brainchild of Simon Clifford, an English football coach who started the programme in the UK and used his academic knowledge of coaching and his teaching experience to develop his own coaching programme.
"What appealed to me about our Dubai Sports City partners was their complete belief in our programme and plans to take it to every pre-school child in the UAE. They understand how it benefits the child’s development physically, socially and emotionally and they are building a fantastic facility to house it in their world leading Academies Campus.  We coach over 1 million children in 61 countries and ICm sure the UAE will be right up there amongst the best," said Simon Clifford, the founder of SOCATOTS.
The courses extend far beyond just physical exercise, SOCATOTS aims to improve balance and co-ordination, further develop cognitive skills, enhance every muscle and bone development, increase self confidence, and demonstrate the benefits of keeping fit through a number of learning exercises.
Research has shown that children who are physically active from a young age are more likely to have better concentration skills in the classroom, and this is the philosophy that underpins the SOCATOTS programme.
 “SOCATOTS is more than just a football programme. It is an innovative concept where children can learn and play through sport and at the same time strongly encourage parental involvement, resulting in the development of stronger bonds between parents and their children,” said Ekta Hutton, Assistant Academies Manager, Dubai Sports City.
“With SOCATOTS, no child is too young to learn, and through our qualified and dedicated teachers, each toddler can gain a unique, fun, and constructive learning experience through the course offerings. We are confident that the inaugural SOCATOTS programme, which we will launch in early 2009, will be a success with the local community and provide sound motor skills development for every child," added Hutton.
Many famous professional athletes are supporters of the SOCATOTS programme, including England and EvertonCs Andy Johnson and Gareth Southgate, Manager of Middlesborough.
The programme has already won praise from a squad of senior players and fitness professionals. Carlos Alberto, captain of the 1970 Brazilian World Cup winning side, said: “I cannot believe what I see with SOCATOTS. It is amazing, something completely different and very special. It will have so many benefits for football and for kids in general. Socially, physically and technically I can see this having such a positive influence for future generations across the world.
Founded in England, SOCATOTS is now available in many different countries around the world, including Holland, Singapore, and Canada. The programme has received huge acclaim, to include having been voted the Best Football Activity at the WhatCs On 4 Little Ones Awards (UK) 2008.

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