Learning platform
en 
Since its creation, the club has been crowned the Vlaamse Sportjuwel [Flemish Sport’s Gem] for the warmest sport’s initiative, named the coolest football club in the city of Leuven and awarded the Bronze UEFA Grassroots Award. But what makes the club so special? They take an inclusive approach, focus on diversity, fight racism and discrimination and try to remove all financial, sporting and logistical obstacles so that no child is left behind.
Making children feel at home
Football Girls Leuven and its large volunteer team and coaches are there to give girls from disadvantaged social backgrounds a second place to call home. “We made it clear from the beginning that we want to be an inclusive club, one where nobody is left out,” says Lieve Lamberts, Football Girls Leuven co-founder and coach. “We want to give children from disadvantaged households, who wouldn’t otherwise be able to, the chance to play football in a team. We see that football brings people together. We also hear that it has an effect on performance at school. Girls who are insecure and become part of a team, where they can develop their skills, become more confident. Girls who feel good on the pitch also become more confident off it.”
Competition and leisure
Subscription fees and costs for sports kits shouldn’t stop anyone from joining the club. That’s why the club chooses to keep its membership fees very low for low-income families. The fees are means tested and parents in the lowest bracket pay only EUR 25 per year. The club also provides children from those families with football kits, which are second-hand so the club gets them cheaply or for free. When the club was established it had 25 members, now it has 180, and counting. The club has a competitions as well as a leisure department. That way, the club doesn’t exclude anyone, and the girls who want to can decide if and when they play matches.
Part 1: 1v1
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Set up a field measuring 25 x 15 meters as shown in the graphic above and place goals at the edges of the playing area.
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Position the other players in the corners of the exercise area, labelled A to D, with balls as shown in the graphic. Place a ball in the middle of the exercise area.
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When told to, one player from corner A and one player from corner C sprint to the second cone on their side of the exercise area.
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Once they are at the cone, a player at corner B or D passes them the ball, which they pass back with one touch.
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After they’ve passed the ball back, they run to the ball in the middle of the exercise area.
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A 1v1 takes place and players A and C try to score.
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After every action, the goalkeepers take up position at corner B or D. Players B and D sprint to the second cone on their side of the exercise area and repeat the sequence. The players at corners A and C become the new goalkeepers.
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Adjust the field size to match the players' skill level.
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Ensure a steady supply of balls in the middle.
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Players second to the ball should adjust speed and positioning to avoid being easily beaten.
Part 2: Finishing under pressure
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Keep the same set-up as for the previous exercises and position the cones in a diagonal line as depicted from the edge of the exercise area.
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Position a player in goal.
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Position the other players along the cones.
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Players A and B play a one-two.
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B or D can decide when to pass through one of the two gaps between the cones behind the other, in the direction of the goal, dribble and shoot.
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When this happens, A and C have to sprint through the other gap between the cones and try to stop B or D from scoring.
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After each action, the goalkeeper becomes the passer, the passer becomes the attacker and the attacker becomes the goalkeeper.
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By holding up a cone in the colour of one of the gates, a coach can signal to the first player which gate to choose.
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Adjust distances between the players according to skill levels.
Part 3: 3v2 or 3v3
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Mark out a 25 x 10 metre exercise area.
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Create 2 teams of 4 players (1 goalkeeper + 3 outfield players) and position as depicted.
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The orange goalkeeper has 1 ball.
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As soon as the goalkeeper passes the ball to one of the other oranges, the game begins: 3 oranges against 2 blues.
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As soon as the red goalkeeper has passed the ball, the blue goalkeeper starts counting loudly up to 7.
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When the count reaches 7, the third blue player joins in to make it 3v3.
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Ensure the outnumbered team's goalkeeper loudly counts and calls for a third player to even the numbers.
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Adjust the time before the 3v2 becomes a 3v3 based on skill levels.
Part 4: Tic Tac Toe
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Place 9 hoops on the ground as depicted.
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Create two teams and position each team at the starting line about 7-10 metres from the hoops.
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Each player has a cone that is the same colour as their bib.
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When told to, the first player from each team sprints to the hoops and puts their cone in one of them, runs back and taps the next player, and so on.
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The first team that has three of its cones in a line (whether vertically, horizontally or diagonally) wins.
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The losing team helps the coach to tidy away all the equipment.
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If two players arrive at the same position simultaneously, both must choose a different one.
Interview with Kris Van Der Haegen
Are women’s football and Leuven the perfect match?
Flemish Brabant’s provincial capital is the go-to destination for Belgian girls looking to hone their football skills. The town is home not only to a dedicated Royal Belgian Football Association development hub for budding female players, but also to Football Girls Leuven, a club founded in 2020 with a distinctive grassroots philosophy all about inclusiveness – all girls are welcome, regardless of standard. The club and city perfectly encapsulate how women’s football has kicked on in Belgium in recent years.
Why was Leuven chosen as the location for the academy?
Leuven is a university town, which means that, after finishing secondary school, players can seamlessly combine football with continuing their studies at a renowned university. Being able to pursue their sporting and academic education in the same town is ideal for furthering their careers on and off the pitch.
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