Sunderland and England striker Darren Bent has praised the Brazilian Soccer School Salisbury’s new Skills Badge Scheme. The scheme is a progressive seven-level scheme for children of all ages and ability that teaches and assesses them on dribbling, passing, turns, ball control and other skills and tricks.

Youngsters will be rewarded with certificates and badges and the ‘First Step’ and ‘Kick Start’ levels are achievable by all children.

Bent worked with the school’s head coach Perry Cocking at Charlton Athletic Football Club and was keen to back the project.

He said: “What Perry is trying to achieve in his local area is incredible. He has a real passion for football and a commitment to making a positive difference to children’s lives. The Skills Badge Scheme is a fantastic idea and I’m glad to help out in any way I can.”

The soccer school started last year on Saturday afternoons at Five Rivers Leisure Centre and has been so successful that it is starting additional weekly sessions for 8 to 13-year-olds from February 5.

Mr Cocking, who is also a former Southampton FC coach, said: “The scheme is an amazing way for children to practice. As children work through the levels they develop unbelievable skills and terrific control of the ball. It produces players who are completely two-footed and have very quick feet, along with great balance and co-ordination. The main thing for me though is the confidence it gives children with the ball, which really helps them during matches for their school and clubs.”

Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) Salisbury have been lauded by Sunderland's Darren Bent, with the striker praising the organisation's ongoing commitment to improving the standard of ability in the UK.

The England international, who is regularly one of the top-goalscoring English players in the Premier League, threw his weight behind the project, citing the Futebol de Salao (FDS) Skills Badge Scheme as one that promises to have a huge impact on the game.
 
Already the likes of Manchester City and England defender Micah Richards, Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott and Tottenham Hotspur youngster John Bostock have benefitted from the Skills Badge, and Bent believes that many thousands more can hone their skills using it.