Leveraging the Power of Football for Affective Learning: My Experience with SportCares' Saturday Night Lights Programme

SportCares is the philanthropic arm of SportSG, established in 2012, to enable vulnerable individuals and persons with disabilities to experience the benefits of sport.  The Saturday Night Lights (SNL) programme is the flagship program of SportCares, serving over 500 youths across 19 teams in 6 different centres across the island. This programme provides a safe and supportive environment for vulnerable youth aged 13-21 to develop their potential through football. 

SNL aims to foster a sense of belonging, build resilience, and promote character development, which is crucial in providing a platform for them to develop into responsible adults. As a coach and mentor, I have the privilege of dedicating my time to helping these youths grow and develop through the beautiful game I love dearly.

The coaching approach at SNL is intentional and values driven. It is guided by the “R.I.D.E.R” values (Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Empathy & Resilience) that we “ride” on (pun intended) to shape how we intentionally plan and deliver sessions. For example, if the “Value of the day” is Integrity, we might design the session in a way that encourages teamwork and honest play. We also ensure that the line of questioning guides them back to that value. This is also in line with CoachSG’s Game for Life (GFL) framework, which emphasises intentional design of sessions for character development. 

We encourage the youths to support each other, take ownership of their actions, and develop a growth mindset. Through reflective practices and open discussions, we help them connect the lessons they learn on the field to their everyday lives.

While football is at the heart of SNL, it's not the only focus. At SportCares, everything – from transportation and training kits to post-session meals – is provided free of charge. In return, we ask for the youths' commitment and their time, not just on the field but also in giving back to the community. Recently, the program participants volunteered at a local mosque during Ramadan, distributing porridge and bento sets for the breaking of fast.

I also had the opportunity to follow some youths in December last year as part of an Overseas Community Service-Learning Project to “Baan Unrak Children's Home”, a place for displaced children from Myanmar & Thailand, near the Thai-Myanmar Border. 

These experiences highlight the program's emphasis on social responsibility and the importance of “giving back”.

My experience with SNL has significantly influenced my approach to the teaching of Physical Education. I have become more aware of the importance of affective learning and the need to create a supportive environment that fosters character development in our students. I do try to intentionally incorporate values-based teaching into my PE lessons, using it as a platform to promote social-emotional learning and personal growth for our students. Furthermore, SportCares' mission and values are very much aligned with the 21st Century Competences (21CC) that we aim to develop in our students. The programme's emphasis on building relationships, developing skills and character, and leading self and teams resonates with the 21CC skills of communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.