Professionals Tamborine Mountain 
For those children with a need to be active both physically and socially—as well as the ones who could use a little more of either— Grasshopper Soccer offers a fantastic alternative to the overly competitive nature of organized soccer clubs. Today, David Hodson breaks down just how the program works, and the benefits it can provide to kids no matter what it is they’re looking for.
by Kyle Hitchmough
Can you explain what it is that you do with Grasshopper Soccer?
Grasshopper Soccer is the number one non-competitive soccer program in Australia. It’s for girls and boys between the ages of 2-12 that want to come along and have some fun, and at the same time, learn new skills. They get to play fun games; they have a ball at their feet most of the time. There’s no pressure, there’s no screaming parents on the sideline, there’s no aggravation. They play a couple of fun games, do a skill, and then we play a big game at the end. They don’t just learn soccer; they learn how to lose gracefully as well as win. It improves their balance, coordination and social skills.
How does the Tamborine Mountain branch of your organisation operate?
We actually hire primary schools. We have to have blue cards and trained staff. We meet at Tamborine Mountain Primary School on a Saturday morning at 8:30 and, depending on the age of the child, will depend on how long they go. Unlike normal soccer, where they have a season, we do 8-week blocks in every school term.
How does Grasshopper Soccer differ from a traditional junior sports program?
It differs from club soccer as they don’t play for points each week. You haven’t got that competitiveness that you have at club soccer. We’re more about nurturing the children. We have kids there with disabilities, with cerebral palsy, with autism, with ADHD, behavioural issues. There was a parent who called me a few weeks ago to register and she said to me quite sheepishly “Do you take kids with cerebral palsy?” I told her of course we do. She had approached a club, and when she mentioned palsy they said “we can’t take him.” So what does he do? We cater for those guys.
How did you come to be involved with Grasshopper Soccer?
I used to work for the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland. I wanted to do something I was passionate about, and coming from Liverpool in England, I’m passionate about soccer. I researched the program and it looked really good. It’s all-inclusive, we don’t leave anybody out.
What are the benefits of the program?
The benefits are that all children can do it regardless of ability. We don’t exempt anybody. From 2-5, the parents actually get involved with doing something with their kids as well. They learn not just soccer skills but social skills, interacting with other people. They learn coordination and balance.
Is there anything in particular that you need to bring to play, like cleats?
They only need to purchase the program. They don’t have to purchase the shirt, shorts, or cap if they don’t want to. They only need to come in a pair of sneakers with a hat and a drink bottle. They can wear cleats if they want, but they don’t have to, they can wear just sneakers.
What’s the parental responsibility for a program like this?
They have to stay with the weekend classes. With the after-school programs, they don’t have to stay, but they do have to be there to pick them up at the end.
Do you find there’s any particular commonalities in the kids you take on?
Yeah, we tend to take on children that don’t want to be under pressure, that don’t want to be competitive. We take on a lot of kids who are quite introverted and shy. We’ve had a lot of situations where kids have been crying for the first couple of weeks and by the end of the term, you’d think it’s a different person. That’s another big thing about Grasshopper Soccer. We nurture them so they grow in confidence.
What’s your opinion on the Tamborine Mountain area and community?
It’s a great community. We’ve got a really good rapport with the school. That school has in the past been voted the number one primary school in Australia. The parents are great, we get a lot of support from the area and the school. It’s just great.
What do you think Grasshopper Soccer really provides to the area?
It provides an opportunity for kids to get involved in a team sport without getting too competitive and without having to travel down to the Gold Coast. It’s more convenient, and that’s something that hasn’t been there before.
What do you enjoy most about working with Grasshopper Soccer?
The most enjoyable part for me is the actual coaching. To go down on a Saturday morning and all the kids have got their kits on, and you say to them “have you been looking forward to this?” and mum or dad says “They’ve been up since 5:00 this morning ready to go!” That, to me, makes it.
Do you have any particularly notable experiences from your time here?
We had a large family, there were four kids that registered when we first started. One of those kids is now one of our coaches. When we first started, one of those kids when he got tagged during the games, he would walk off and cry. The principal said to me one day, “Your program is fantastic. I’ve seen a big difference in this particular child since he’s been doing Grasshopper Soccer. He’s more calm, he accepts decisions.” I think that’s probably because we’re so structured.
Is there anything else you’d like to go on the record?
The one problem we have on the mountain is hiring coaches! We’re definitely always looking for people who can spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning with us. Come down and coach for us, it is paid. Anyone interested should call me at 0432 629 501.
We are always looking for new topics for our blog. If there’s something you like to see more of, email your suggestions to: social@professionalsserendipity.com.au, or email the writer at kyle.hitchmough@hotmail.com.
