We live in the Korso (East Vantaa) area and have a 4½yo son. KoPSe (Korson Palloseura, Korso Football Club) has a program starting, where 4 year-olds start to play football/soccer. It's mostly fun and games at the beginning, of course, and the most important thing is learning how to do things together.
I was wondering if anyone knew of an English speaking football club here in the greater Helsinki Area, where kids were taught to play in English? I would much rather take my son there, even if it meant driving a bit.
John L.
Learning to play football/soccer in English
Re: Learning to play football/soccer in English
My eldest played in an English speaking club in Espoo (Honka). The only reason it was English speaking was because the two coaches were both Brits. I don't know of any clubs where English is the official club language ( it's a FAB idea) but I am pretty sure there are quite a few Brit dads coaching football teams in the area. I suggest you call the HQ of VPS junior league coordinator (I think they are the biggest) and ask: http://www.vjs.fi/sivut/yhteystiedot/
And these two came up on http://www.vantaa.fi/en/i_perusdokument ... 4D507D9E92
Vantaan Jalkapalloseura ry
Myyrmäki, Martinlaakso
m, n, p, t / ku, ki Pirjo Olin
ptsto 507 4974, 040 523 3524
Football school for children
p, t Veli-Matti Rinnemäki
ptsto 507 4974, 040 839 2740
Vantaan Story Pool ry *
Tikkurila
m / ki Sami Pulkkinen
050 380 3812
Another idea would be to ask the parents of kids at the nearest English language daycare.
BTW... a word of warning. Junior league football is generally taken very seriously in Finland (it's very "organised"). It's not just "fun and games". You will be asked to join the football federation and pay a club fee. And then you will get roped in to all kinds of fundraising activities not to mention driving your son back and forth across Helsinki to matches and tournaments. And your summer vacation will be spent watching football (the season is April - > October). I've been doing it for 7 years (Helsinki Cup EVERY July), training and games almost every night of the week, plus weekends....
Good luck.
And these two came up on http://www.vantaa.fi/en/i_perusdokument ... 4D507D9E92
Vantaan Jalkapalloseura ry
Myyrmäki, Martinlaakso
m, n, p, t / ku, ki Pirjo Olin
ptsto 507 4974, 040 523 3524
Football school for children
p, t Veli-Matti Rinnemäki
ptsto 507 4974, 040 839 2740
Vantaan Story Pool ry *
Tikkurila
m / ki Sami Pulkkinen
050 380 3812
Another idea would be to ask the parents of kids at the nearest English language daycare.
BTW... a word of warning. Junior league football is generally taken very seriously in Finland (it's very "organised"). It's not just "fun and games". You will be asked to join the football federation and pay a club fee. And then you will get roped in to all kinds of fundraising activities not to mention driving your son back and forth across Helsinki to matches and tournaments. And your summer vacation will be spent watching football (the season is April - > October). I've been doing it for 7 years (Helsinki Cup EVERY July), training and games almost every night of the week, plus weekends....
Good luck.