Oliver Coulson, 13, has become the first player from Brazilian Soccer Schools Ilkley to achieve Level Two of The Futebol de Salão Skills Badge Scheme.

The skills badge scheme is a fun and educational way of encouraging players to achieve their highest possible levels.

Brazilian Soccer Schools’ Ilkley head coach Dan Smith said: “I am absolutely delighted and proud to say that Oliver has achieved his Level Two.

"His commitment to training, whether it’s with BSS, school or club football or by himself, is second to none.”

Run nationally through Schools, football clubs and Brazilian Soccer Schools the scheme works on seven levels, first step and kick start for the players who are just starting out playing for the first time, right through to levels one to five for the more advanced players. Aspects of the scheme include such skills as passing, turning, kick ups and dribbling, just to name a few. Level Five of the scheme represents the pinnacle of technical excellence and any young player who achieves this award will have given themselves the best possible chance of developing a career in football at the highest level.

Without doubt, this is an extremely hard award to achieve and it will have taken thousands of hours of practice to reach this elite level.

Smith added: "To pass this level is not an easy task - it challenges players to improve their ball control and foot speed to a standard higher than that of a young professional Academy player.

"When Oliver first started training with us, he could do one or two kick-ups with the outside of his foot and now, a few months later, he has achieved 36 and can quite comfortably get over 25 every time now - that is something that a lot of professional players would struggle to do!

"Oliver’s next task now is to work towards his Level Three, which will be hard to get but I am confident that he has the right attitude to training to achieve this.”

The Futebol de Salão Skills Badge Scheme is available to all schools and football clubs/teams throughout Ilkley, Guiseley, Baildon, Bingley, Silsden and surrounding areas.

Please contact Dan Smith on Ilkley@icfds.com if you would like more information about bringing the scheme to your school/club.