Kicking life goals

Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann

For 19 years, the Victoria Police Soccer COPPS program has been kicking goals by teaching sporting skills and life lessons to more than 13,300 children.

Created by Detective Leading Senior Constable Vince Manno, the fun program involves police devoting their spare time to running soccer clinics for kids across Victoria.

Det Ldg Sen Const Manno’s own love of soccer inspired him to use the sport as a way of sharing important lessons about safety and bullying.

“I think it’s really important because we’re trying to provide life skills through sport,” Det Ldg Sen Const Manno said.

More than 13,000 children have taken part in the Soccer COPPS program.

“The sport itself takes second place to the messages we’re trying to convey.

“Part of that is to help the kids understand what to do if they find themselves in harm’s way.

“We also talk to them about taking care of themselves, of each other and also to be mindful of some of the pitfalls related to social media and how dangerous that can be to young children, including the aspect of bullying.

The program teaches soccer skills and life skills.

“We want these young people to be connected — connected to their families, to their friends and their community.

“So it’s great seeing the officers not only playing soccer with the kids, but interacting with them and sometimes just sitting down and having a chat.”

Constable Catherine Elliott is one of the police from all across the state who volunteers for Soccer COPPS (which stands for Choices, Opportunities, Partnerships and Participation = Success).

Police from around the state volunteer their time to help run Soccer COPPS.

“I think the program is a fabulous opportunity for Victoria Police to get involved in the local community,” Const Elliott said.

“It gives us a chance to get involved with kids from all walks of life in a fun situation, as opposed to when they’re involved in a crisis.”

Det Ldg Sen Const Manno said the program has had a particular focus on regional areas over the years.

“It’s been special to get out to some rural communities where some kids have never had any interaction with police,” he said.

Children get to have fun, get active and learn important lessons in the program.

One of the most recent Soccer COPPS clinics was held in the northern Melbourne suburb of Dallas for students at Holy Child Primary School.

The school’s principal Alan Smith said it was important for children to have a good relationship with police.

“This program has allowed the children to see that the police are human, community orientated and are giving back to our community,” Mr Smith said.

“We are one of the most disadvantaged areas in the state, so to have the police put on an event like this and join in with our community, it’s just amazing.”