Some people think soccer is a matter of life and death....it's not, it's more important than that.

Drawing on more than 18 years in the football coaching and business world, the vision for Coaches across Continents was developed. It’s an innovative vision that allows experienced football coaches to work and assist developing regions using a designed soccer education curriculum. Like the successful PLAY SOCCER model, this not for profit organization develops young people to become modern leaders in their community.

The Important Dates in the evolution of Coaches across Continents:

1990: Former England Youth International and Harvard University graduate Nick Gates co-founded PLAY SOCCER, a soccer coaching company in New England.

1991: The first ever PLAY SOCCER camp in Cambridge, MA attracted 37 campers.

1992: PLAY SOCCER introduced the ’Soccer as Education’ curriculum and more than 600 campers attended camps.

1994: World Cup Coach, Jack Charlton endorsed the ’Soccer as Education’ curriculum.

1995: Saw the first spring and fall coaching clinics with professional coaches from PLAY SOCCER.

1999: PLAY SOCCER assisted Womens’ World Cup USA and launched the Girls PLAY SOCCER camp.

The work behind Coaches across Continents: Setting it up.

2001-2003: Nick Gates began research in to The Power of Soccer and over 21 months, traveled to more than 55 countries to develop the Coaches across Continents concept and the Chance to Choice Curriculum.

"It was the most amazing experience to play our Football in the Streets with children all around the world, to see how quickly we could capture their imagination, make them laugh and show them different ways to play and think" Nick Gates, 2003.

2003-2004: Nick had a season in the Premier League as the Business of Football Executive with Middlesbrough Football Club.

2005: PLAY SOCCER coaches its one millioneth player at camps and clinics and more than 9,000 parent coaches attend our coach training programs.

2006-2007: Nick set off again on his travels, this time to Africa. He conducted football clinics in more than 10 countries over a 12 month period and recognized the urgent need for change.

"What is needed is not another NGO doing the same things as some of the wonderful existing groups, what is needed is a group who can educate and train teachers, coaches and volunteers so that they can use soccer to change lives. What we need to do is to start a new charity that addresses these needs and ensure that children are hearing the same messages from teachers on important social issues like HiV, gender issues and tribal roles".

Nick Gates, 2006

The work of Coaches across Continents: Helping NGO groups and community educators around the world.

2007:

Pilot Programs begin with Ron Clark Academy, Atlanta

Curriculum Consultancy begins with Right to Play

Curriculum development begins with African Impact, Zambia

Develop on-line curriculum to mentor partner groups around the world.

2008: Seamus Malin joins the Board of Directors

Sir Bobby Robson (right) becomes a UK spokesman

Programs begin in India supported by Coerver Coaching South East

Programs begin in S. Africa with FUNDaFIELD and SMUSA

Programs continue in India with Udayan Orphanges

Programs begin in Tanzania with Kigoma Municipal Education

The Hat-Trick Initiative pilot program begins in Kigoma.

Soccer for Health and Wellness games from Chance to Choice curriculum are used throughout Africa on Aids Day.

Demosphere, Middlesbrough Football Club, PLAY SOCCER and XL Soccer Tours become supporting partners.

2009: Coaches across Continents adds Soccer for Conflict Resolution to the Chance to Choice Curriculum that also includes:

1) Football for Community
2) Football for Education
3) Football for Exercise
4) Football for Female Empowerment
5) Football for Health and Wellness
6) Football Skills for Life
7) Football in the Streets

Coaches across Continents wins the Beyond Sport Global Award for Best New Project for Sport and Social Development

Kigoma adds first ever Girls Only Football

Coaches across Continents consults for US Soccer Foundation and the PASS BACK tour

Corporate Social Responsibility 2009 Program unveiled at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore

Hat-trick Initiative Programs added in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda and Tanzania.

Social Responsibility Tour to Africa announced with XL Soccer Tours (click photo on left for details)

Harvard University Soccer support the first ever Goals4Leaders sponsorship program.

Sitheglobal supports Uganda Hat-Trick Initiative

First Community teacher travels to USA to gain soccer education teaching and cultural experience.

8 week Program in Zambia to establish the Football for Female Empowerment program.

Coaches across Continents joins Urban Soccer Collaboration in the US to assist with urban communities

Our web site receives requests from 73 countries around the world for our program.

Players across Continents is launched.

Coaches across Continents membership on Facebook grows every day

"The problems in Africa are unique but the children are still the same. They laugh, they smile, they take in every word and show great respect for coaches and games. Children may not always attend school, but you can bet that they will turn up to play football. Perhaps if we can show them different ways to do their daily tasks, change may be possible". Nick Gates, 2009

2010: Coaches across Continents adds programs in:

Kenya 2010:

VAP: April

SEP: April

KFYA: May

Uganda 2010:

New Hope: June - August

FRO: June - August

Buwate: August

South Africa 2010:

Whizzkids: July

Malawi 2010:

Play Soccer: August

Funwefarms: September

Zambia 2010:

Play Soccer: October

BSI: November

Tanzania 2010:

Kigoma/Ujiji: September

Geita: September

Coaches across Continents curriculum focuses upon:

1) Soccer for Conflict Resolution

2) Soccer for Female Empowerment

3) Soccer for Health and Wellness incl. HIV

4) Soccer for Fun

Coaches across Continents add Christian Aviza, Ciaran McArdle, Graham Bradford and Andy Old to the Boards.

Coaches across Continents: Summary

Our concept is unique. We educate local teachers/coaches to educate local children. This ensures that all our programs are sustainable. We custom design every curriculum rather than use a generic one in every region. This ensures that what we are facilitating has direct local relevance. We have invested three years on our on-line curriculum program so that we can provide support 365 days a year and mentor communities year-round. This is a unique concept and has far more beneficial results for the communities than traditional methods. The direct result of our programs are that we are developing a new generation of community leaders who are educated and choose their futures rather than rely on traditions passed down from previous generations.