Cambridge United FC teams up with Footee.com to make young fans smarter

Nov. 22, 2010 - PRLog -- The initiative is the product of a partnership with Cambridge based e-learning specialists MotivatEd, who specialise in engaging educationally with children through their passion for sport and fun online kids gaming.

Cambridge United Footee (Footee) takes the form of a club-branded virtual world full of National Curriculum-linked educational games and quests. Achievements are rewarded by virtual currency that allows children to purchase “real world” star players for their own playable dream team.

The programme is supported by the English FA and features the full Cambridge United squad along with all teams and players from the English Premier League. Its football-themed games support learning in mathematics, language, science, geography, and history - as well as helping to develop skills in cross-curricular competences such as health, nutrition, citizenship, teamwork, and digital literacy.

Recent research by Loughborough University has shown that Footee can be used to markedly increase the general levels of physical activity in primary school children, through its motivational structure and fitness reward schemes.

Will Jones, PR, Marketing and Media Manager at Cambridge United, said,

“We are really excited about the potential of this programme to inspire local children to develop their educational skills through their passion for football and our club. The project is an excellent fit with our recently formed charitable Trust in terms of reaching out and engaging positively with local communities.”

Phil Clegg, Managing Director of Footee creators MotivatEd said,

“Advances in technology mean that many children spend time on the internet playing games. Our aim is to encourage constructive use of this time to boost educational growth, improve nutritional knowledge, and motivate increases in physical activity. I am thrilled that the first live club version of Footee will be for our local team. The next version to go live is for Chelsea FC and we plan to rapidly expand the programme to many more clubs in 2011”.

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www.footee.com has established itself as one the leading online educational programmes for children, gaining over 100,000 registered users since its October 2009 launch and receiving over 7 million page impressions per month. Footee successfully
motivates children to get healthy and learn National Curriculum skills via their love of sport and gaming. The programme automatically updates parents on their child’s educational performance and provides comprehensive lesson plans, activity sheets, and retrospective analysis data for teachers.

For further information and access to research study participants please contact:
Dominic Cahalin, Head of Marketing, MotivatEd, dominic.cahalin@motivated.ltd.uk 01223 265617 / 07964 113842