FAB Bears football summer camps are back this summer – here’s how to book

Paid collaboration with FAB Bears

FAB Bears have earned a glowing reputation among parents in Cardiff for their fun and lively football-based sessions, where helping children grow in confidence and discovering the joy of sport are key.

Hundreds of children across the city attend FAB Bears pre-school and after-school classes each week, not only developing football skills, but learning about teamwork and discovering a joy of sport through exciting games and challenges. The emphasis is on taking part and enjoyment, rather than competition and high pressure. One parent whose child attends the class described them as “wonderful”, adding, “They are inclusive and teach qualities that are much more important than being good at sport.”

If you’ve yet to discover the joy of FAB Bears, then their popular summer camps for four to 11 year olds taking place this July and August could be your chance. Bookings are also now open for the September to October half term, with spaces in both the pre-school classes for two to four year olds and the after school classes for four to 11 year olds.

Read on for more information including how to book.

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FAB Bears – “more than just a business to me”

FAB Bears was founded in 2016 by local mum Angharad James, pictured below with her son. She’d noticed that a lot of football groups for children had a competitive focus, and while those teams have an important place in children’s grassroots sports, Angharad wanted to create a group where football skills were taught in a more relaxed environment and where the emphasis was on enjoyment, participation and having fun. As FAB Bears is a small business based in Cardiff, rather than part of a bigger national franchise, Angharad is able to tailor what she offers to meet the ever-evolving needs of local parents.

The name FAB Bears is in memory of a little boy who Angharad used to coach – Fraser Aaron Bates, who tragically died in a road traffic accident.

 “FAB Bears is and will always be more than just a business to me,” Angharad explains.  

FAB Bears prides itself on being an inclusive sports club where kindness and teamwork are valued above everything else, and the main aim is boosting children’s confidence. Angharad and her team of enthusiastic coaches have created a supportive, pressure free environment where children of all abilities can flourish.

As one parent says of the classes, “I think the sessions are wonderful. They are inclusive and teach qualities that are much more important that being good at sport. I am grateful that you offer a platform for young kids to build confidence and a ‘have a go’ attitude which is not always available to them.

“I don’t want my son to shy away from sport because he’s not the biggest, fastest or best on the pitch. I want him to experience the positive aspects that team sport can offer like health, fun, fitness, team building skills, communication and friendships…. FAB Bears offers all of the above – thank you!”

Angharad adds, “Sport as a whole is so competitive and a huge percentage of the children who attend our sessions would get lost in such a pressurised environment. There are so many positives in playing a team sport and every child should be entitled to that. 

“At FAB Bears we want to create well-rounded, life-long athletes. We strive to recognise and praise efforts rather than just results. Fulfilment is key, we want the children to leave our sessions feeling fulfilled knowing they’ve tried their best.”

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FAB Bears summer camps – now open to book

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With the same ethos as the weekly classes, FAB Bears’ popular summer camps offer exciting, confidence boosting sessions for children for three weeks of the school holidays.

The two-hour summer camps include football skill based drills and matches, as you might expect. But more than that, children also take part in different activities including water pistol games (depending on weather), dodgeball, team game activities such as tug of war, and parachute games, with a huge emphasis on taking part and having fun. Throughout the week, the children participate in various challenges with medals and trophies given out at the end of the week.

The summer camps are perfect for all abilities, including complete beginners. “We have a huge spectrum of children who come,” says Angharad. “Some who have never kicked a ball before and some who play for football academies. Currently 37% of our children are girls and 50% of our coaching staff are female.”

She adds that children are not required to purchase any special kit, they can wear any comfortable clothing, and will need to bring a drink and a small snack with them to the session.

The summer camps take place on Roath Rec (or Willows High if it’s wet) on Mondays to Thursdays 31 July-3 August, 7-10 August and 14-17 August. You can book the 10am-12pm or 12pm-2pm sessions, with a single session costing just £10 or a discounted rate of £38 per week.

For more information on FAB Bears summer camps, including how to book, visit the website here.

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Spaces now available for FAB Bears September-October half term

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Once the summer is over, children can continue (or begin!) their FAB Bears journey, with regular weekly sessions available for children aged two to 11.

Angharad is extending a special welcome to two to three year olds, as more than 30 toddlers move up to the after-school sessions, meaning lots of available spaces for the youngest children.

The toddler sessions, for ages two to four, combine listening, movement, counting, colours, numbers and football to create a fun and exciting experience where the top priority is to boost confidence. Classes take place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings and afternoons in venues including Cyncoed Methodist Church and Maes y Coed Community Centre.

After school sessions take place for children aged four to six and seven to 11 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays at Roath Rec if it’s dry or Willows High School if it’s wet.

There are spaces available on several of the pre-school and after school sessions – others are already fully booked (in which case you can join the waiting list).

In the words of another parent whose child attended the classes, “I couldn’t recommend it enough, it has given each of my children so much confidence. An amazing club run by incredible people.”

For more information on FAB Bears pre-school and after sessions, including booking a free trial session, visit the website here.

You can also email FAB Bears on fabbearsfootball@gmail.com

Have your children taken part in FAB Bears football classes or summer camps? Or is it something they might be interested in? Do let me know in the comments on any of my social media channels and feel free to tag friends you think may be interested.