How playing football has built Amin’s confidence and independence

Amin is a cheerful and enthusiastic boy who comes along to Sense’s sensory football sessions in south east London. He’s blind and has learning difficulties, and football has not only helped him build his confidence, but also develop skills that have helped him succeed at school. 

Here, Amin’s PE teacher Katie and support worker Kina explain how sensory football has opened up his world. 

Katie: “Amin has always found it hard to engage in sports. He knows his way around the school and uses musical switches on the classroom doors, but transitioning to a large, busy sports hall was quite difficult for him. 

“He didn’t socialise with other children, and struggled to follow instructions. He left his first sensory football session early. It was too overwhelming for him at that time.”

Kina: “To begin with, Amin was only willing to touch one particular ball. He played away from the group and was following his own agenda.

“By the third session, we’d created a safe area for him, and Amin was scoring a ball into a large bucket which gave him lots of sound and vibrations as feedback. 

“He started following the same instructions as his classmates and gradually interacting with them.

“To move around the hall, he would bottom shuffle. But by the sixth session, he was walking confidently among the group and joining in all of the activities. Now, he follows instructions, interacts, and helps tidy up at the end before leaving the session happy.”

“Now that he’s a whizz at sensory football, Amin participates more in learning and is much better at following instructions in all his classes. He’s also more confident outside of the sports hall.”

Kina, Amin’s support worker

Katie: “Amin has become such a good example to other children. 

“There is a young boy with a limited attention span in the sessions, and he would initially wander around a lot, struggling to engage with the activities. When we pair him with Amin, they will sit on the floor with their feet together and roll a ball between. 

“When Amin isn’t there, the other child doesn’t participate as much.

“Amin is so in tune with the activities and he passes his knowledge to the other pupils. It’s fantastic to see, as our pupils often seek interaction with adults, rather than their peers. 

“It’s very positive for Amin and the other children. He’s done so, so well.”

Kina: “Now that he’s a whizz at sensory football, Amin participates more in learning and is much better at following instructions in all his classes. He’s also more confident outside of the sports hall and touches a wider variety of toys and objects. 

“As a blind person, Amin’s eagerness to explore and find out about his environment will have a big impact on his life. It will give him more independence; he’ll be able to do more things himself, instead of avoiding them or relying on others.”

“Now that Amin is fully engaged in sensory football, he’s encouraging others to join in and supporting his classmates too.”

Katie: “The most important thing is that Amin really enjoys himself. 

“It’s been amazing to watch him go from not being very happy there and not engaging, to being a core part of the class. Going on that journey with him has been so special.”