Marcus Rashford has created a revolutionary program called “Play Forward” in collaboration with Football Without Borders and Nike with the goal of fostering self-belief in the next generation of youth.

The Play Forward curriculum, which uses football to help 11 and 12 year olds realize their own superpowers, build strong relationships, and dare to dream big, was developed by the curriculum team at FBB in partnership with Marcus Rashford and Nike.

I worked with Marcus to find his own nugget of wisdom for the next generation. Numerous themes are covered in the curriculum, including the importance of community, self-assurance and belief, objectives and visualization, s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s and tactics, and abilities. We see a world where all youth can thrive in regular schooling with the support of a trustworthy, trustworthy, and relatable adult in their life. We are starting down this route with youth in Year 7 through Play Forward. Marcus said during the program:

It is an honor to have worked with the personnel of Nike and Football Beyond Borders to make “Play Forward” a reality. For many years, I have been developing a strategy for the upcoming football players. “Play Forward” advocates for cultivating an attitude of self-belief and acknowledging the innate potential of every individual. I can’t wait to see everyone perform.

We teach Play Forward in two-hour weekly on/off-pitch sessions at community centers and FBB partner schools through our delivery partner, Manchester Young Lives, over the course of a 12-week program. At the end of every 12-week program, the young people are invited to a graduation ceremony where they can mingle, think back, and celebrate their journey.

Play Forward places a high priority on social emotional learning strategies to support youth in improving their decision-making, interpersonal communication, and emotional regulation s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s. This fits well with our idea of change and supports young people transitioning to secondary school in realizing their full potential on the field and in the classroom.

We are grateful that Nike is funding our project with £1,000,000 over a five-year period. The project is based in Marcus Rashford’s hometown of Greater Manchester and will eventually expand to London and Birmingham, with a focus on impoverished communities.