What is it like to be an apprentice at Fiesta Sports Coaching?
Why Fiesta Sports Coaching?
When I first heard about Fiesta Sports, I didn’t realise what they did as a company until I completed some further research. They are a sports coaching provider. Delivering in schools, holiday camps and extracurricular activities. This caught my attention straight away. I always knew I wanted to work in a school environment but didn’t know what route I wanted to take. I studied sports at college and have loved sports and physical activity ever since I was 4. My main passion within sports was Football.
The day of the interview
When I arrived for my interview, I was petrified! This was the first Interview I had ever been to. However, the two company directors, John and Vicky, made me feel very welcome as soon as I walked through the door, and I didn’t even have job yet. The interview went well, and I got the job.
I’ve got the Job!
During the signing of my contract, I got to meet the team. They were amazing! They helped me to get to know the school I was based within and understand all the different aspects of the job I would be doing. I can remember my first day like it was yesterday. I woke up nice and early and because I couldn’t drive yet my mum dropped me off. I was nervous about starting somewhere new but the whole team made me feel so welcomed and helped me settle in straight away. I got stuck in straight away and helped in year 2 listening to readers and assisting the director, Vicky, with PE. We delivered the Cambridge scheme of work lesson: Ball, Tall and Wall which is a fundamental movements session in Gymnastics. That first day really opened my eyes to how much I was going to enjoy the job. The children were great to work with and kept me smiling all day long. At that point I couldn’t see myself doing any other job and I still feel the same way to this day!
What I do day to day
My work consisted of mostly assisting PE delivery within school. However, during the half term holidays Fiesta run sport and activity camps and I was lucky enough to be a part of these as well. I love the camps. I get to deliver my favourite sport all day with different children, of all ages and abilities. The CPD and experience I gain from this is astounding. Furthermore, as a company We give children, from the ages of 12, the opportunity to become a young leader. This includes aiding the session coach and being a role model for the other children at the camp. An example of a typical football camp at Fiesta contains, small-sided tournaments, training sessions and of course fun and exciting challenges.
My apprenticeship
Across the duration of my apprenticeship, the team made sure I was settling in fine and supported me with anything I needed. I had regular meetings with my assessor from my course and my mentor/boss John. The course was really interesting ad progressive, Fiesta gave me more than enough time to complete my tasks for the course and also made sure it was up to a good standard before I submitted it.
What I have achieved with Fiesta
I loved being an apprentice. I have never been a person who can sit in a classroom and learn through pen and paper. I was always the type of kid to learn practically and through lived experiences. Fiesta provided that for me. When my apprenticeship finally came to a conclusion, I was ecstatic! This was because I could have my own independence and deliver sessions by myself. Even though completing the course and receiving the qualification was down to me, Fiesta gave me the support, guidance and experience I needed to lead my own sessions and have a positive impact on children’s health and wellbeing. The qualifications I have obtained through the support of Fiesta are a Level 2 Teaching Assistant, Level 2 Multi-skills. Level 1 Football, Paediatric First Aid and Level 2 Dodgeball.