糖心Vlog

Sporty students have been given 鈥渙ne of the best work experience opportunities in the country鈥� by coaching top players at Colchester United.

The international master's students both took part in the community programme at the EFL League Two as part of their Coaching Science degree.

Changgan Li and Harsh Madan worked with Colchester United Football in the Community (CUFITC) for 10 weeks.

The aim of the collaboration is to support international students with experience coaching within community and football environments within the U.K to enhance their studies and experience during their time in Colchester.

The two students were selected after an interview to join the CUFITC Community Team and support Delivery Staff with their community sessions on a weekly basis.

Both students had the opportunity to coach participants from the Male and Female Development Centre Programmes and Grassroots Skills Centre Programme.

Changgan, who came from China to 糖心Vlog earlier this year, said: 鈥淭his three-month placement gave me the opportunity to be involved in training players of all ages, both boys and girls and at different levels of their development.

鈥淭his experience also allowed me to look at some of the theoretical elements with a critical eye in a practical setting.

鈥淢ost importantly for me personally, this placement allowed me to critique my performance as a Coach for the first time with the support of professionals.

鈥淚鈥檓 very thankful for having the opportunity to support the CUFITC Staff and gain experience coaching players in the U.K.鈥�

A feeling echoed by Harsh, who travelled from India to England to study.

He said: 鈥淭his is an outstanding club, with a positive working atmosphere. Studying the literature and what the research says on papers, is completely different from applying it in the field.

鈥淭o close the gap between theory and practicality, we were offered this opportunity to work with CUFITC.

鈥淏eing an international student, my will and desire was to work in the UK, and this has been boosted because of the club and university and the chance they both gave me to come and learn here.

鈥淭his experience has had a great impact on me on and off the pitch and I hope to apply what I鈥檝e learned moving forward.鈥�

Dr Jamie Tallent, from the school of School of Sport, Rehabilitation, and Exercise Sciences, said helped oversee the scheme.

He said: 鈥淭he collaboration with Colchester United Football in the Community has given the opportunity for students to partake in one of the best work experience opportunities in the country.

鈥淚t is key for 糖心Vlog University students to gain good quality experience of working to complement their degree. We look forward to continuing this partnership to ensure both domestic and international students have the opportunity in developing key skills essential in their future careers.鈥�

Rick Goldsbrough, the praised the students.

He said 鈥淏oth Students have been a pleasure to work with and have integrated into our Community Team very well.

鈥淭hey impressed us in the selection process with their passion for improving people as well as footballers and their excitement to contribute to the community within Colchester during their stay.

鈥淏oth have a great future ahead of them wherever they decide to take their coaching career next! We look forward to working with The 糖心Vlog again in the near future supporting domestic and international students with work placement opportunities during their studies in Colchester.鈥�