Football company directly tackles mental health

An EFL and ESL English Lesson

Lesson Collection
A photo of a football team huddle.

Date: 26th February 2023

Level: B2 Upper-intermediate

Grammar: Adverbs of degree, manner, and time

Topics: Health & Wellbeing, Sport, Society & Lifestyle

Printables: 10-Page Lesson, Single-Page Lesson

Lesson

Text

Football company directly tackles mental health

A local football scheme in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven thoroughly successful. Communities in Kent can join football and therapy sessions, thanks to Head In The Game. The initiative aims fundamentally to help men who struggle with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.

The company was established in 2021 directly as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health. The founder of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”. The company’s mission is to implement free weekly football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that really saves people’s lives”, he said.

Before and after the football game, participants openly share their concerns with a number on a scale of zero to ten. The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and mentally, such as tackling substance abuse. Pinkney spoke of the friendships securely formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that trust with our sessions”.

Head In The Game were previously finalists in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive funding and partnership from various foundations. In 2023 they plan to launch the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and eventually roll out to other towns.

Information sources (external links): bbc.com, swlondoner.co.uk

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Warm-up activities and vocabulary

Activities:

List the sports you play or do daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly.

What sports idioms, phrases, or slogans, such as Nike’s “Just Do It”, do you know?

Write an acrostic poem for the word community.

Vocabulary:

1. Scan the text and find a word or phrase that means:

  • a plan (paragraph 1)s...
  • effect (paragraph 2)i...
  • worries (paragraph 3)c...
  • money (paragraph 4)f...
  • start (paragraph 4)l...
Answers
  • scheme, impact, concerns, funding, launch

2. What does the italicised phrase below mean — size, weighing, or between?

  • a number on a scale of zero to ten
Answer
  • between

3. Which word below doesn’t belong?

  • substance — scheme — initiative — plan
Answer
  • substance

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Reading comprehension true or false

For each question answer true or false.

A local football scheme in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven thoroughly successful. Communities in Kent can join football and therapy sessions, thanks to Head In The Game. The initiative aims fundamentally to help men who struggle with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.

  1. The scheme runs football sessions as a therapy.
  2. The aim of the scheme is to help fathers save money.

The company was established in 2021 directly as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health. The founder of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”. The company’s mission is to implement free weekly football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that really saves people’s lives”, he said.

  1. A pandemic inspired the founder to start the company.
  2. The football is free but the therapy costs half its usual price.

Before and after the football game, participants openly share their concerns with a number on a scale of zero to ten. The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and mentally, such as tackling substance abuse. Pinkney spoke of the friendships securely formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that trust with our sessions”.

  1. The players describe their mental wellbeing with a number.
  2. In the sessions depression, anxiety, and drugs are discussed.
  3. The founder believes football can create trust and support.

Head In The Game were previously finalists in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive funding and partnership from various foundations. In 2023 they plan to launch the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and eventually roll out to other towns.

  1. The company won a BBC competition.
  2. The scheme plans on expanding around the UK.
  3. Schools are next on the list for the company’s growth.
Answers
  • 1T, 2F, 3T, 4F, 5T, 6T, 7T, 8F, 9T, 10F

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Phrases, synonyms, and antonyms match-up

Match the words on the left to their endings to make phrases from the text.

  1. substance
  2. struggle
  3. mental
  4. half
  5. response
  6. openly
  7. therapy
  8. physically and
  9. roll
  10. impact
  1. share
  2. on
  3. to
  4. sessions
  5. with
  6. out
  7. abuse
  8. the battle
  9. mentally
  10. health
Answers
  • 1G, 2E, 3J, 4H, 5C, 6A, 7D, 8I, 9F, 10B

Match the words on the left from the text to their synonyms.

  1. depression
  2. establish
  3. fund
  4. implement
  5. tackle
  1. start
  2. sadness
  3. support
  4. deal with
  5. apply
Answers
  • 1B, 2A, 3C, 4E, 5D

Match the words on the left from the text to their antonyms.

  1. gather
  2. fundamental
  3. launch
  1. unimportant
  2. delay
  3. leave
Answers
  • 1C, 2A, 3B

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Grammar gap-fill cloze: adverbs of degree, manner, and time

For each missing word choose an answer from A to J.

  1. really
  2. mentally
  3. thoroughly
  4. weekly
  5. directly
  1. eventually
  2. securely
  3. openly
  4. previously
  5. fundamentally

A local football scheme in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven 1._______________ successful.

Communities in Kent can join football and therapy sessions, thanks to Head In The Game.

The initiative aims 2._______________ to help men who struggle with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.

The company was established in 2021 3._______________ as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health.

The founder of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”.

The company’s mission is to implement free 4._______________ football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that 5._______________ saves people’s lives”, he said.

Before and after the football game, participants 6._______________ share their concerns with a number on a scale of zero to ten.

The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and 7._______________, such as tackling substance abuse.

Pinkney spoke of the friendships 8._______________ formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that trust with our sessions”.

Head In The Game were 9._______________ finalists in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive funding and partnership from various foundations.

In 2023 they plan to launch the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and 10._______________ roll out to other towns.

Answers
  1. 1C, 2J, 3E, 4D, 5A, 6H, 7B, 8G, 9I, 10F

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Vocabulary multiple-choice cloze

For each missing word choose an answer from A to D.

A local football scheme in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven thoroughly successful.

1._______________ in Kent can join football and therapy sessions, thanks to Head In The Game.

The 2._______________ aims fundamentally to help men who 3._______________ with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.

The company was 4._______________ in 2021 directly as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health.

The founder of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”.

The company’s mission is to 5._______________ free weekly football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that really saves people’s lives”, he said.

Before and after the football game, participants openly share their concerns with a number on a 6._______________ of zero to ten.

The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and mentally, such as 7._______________ substance abuse.

Pinkney spoke of the friendships securely formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that 8._______________ with our sessions”.

Head In The Game were previously finalists in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive 9._______________ and partnership from various foundations.

In 2023 they plan to 10._______________ the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and eventually roll out to other towns.

1.
A. Organisations
B. Couples
C. Employees
D. Communities
2.
A. initial
B. initiative
C. instant
D. inside
3.
A. start
B. figure
C. struggle
D. face
4.
A. accepted
B. escaped
C. established
D. settled
5.
A. implement
B. play
C. placement
D. payment
6.
A. note
B. pitch
C. tone
D. scale
7.
A. tackle
B. tackles
C. tackled
D. tackling
8.
A. trust
B. crust
C. rust
D. dust
9.
A. cash
B. funding
C. income
D. payment
10.
A. land
B. launch
C. lend
D. list
Answers
  1. 1D, 2B, 3C, 4C, 5A, 6D, 7D, 8A, 9B, 10B

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Writing cloze

Spell the missing words correctly.

  1. c e h s e m
  2. h e t y a p r
  3. n u l a d m y e f t a l n
  4. d t s e a h l s e b i
  5. o r u f n e d
  1. s i s o n i m
  2. c t a t r i p i p s n a
  3. b u a e s
  4. n f a s l i t i s
  5. l v e y e n u a l t

A local football 1._______________ in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven thoroughly successful.

Communities in Kent can join football and 2._______________ sessions, thanks to Head In The Game.

The initiative aims 3._______________ to help men who struggle with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.

The company was 4._______________ in 2021 directly as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health.

The 5._______________ of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”.

The company’s 6._______________ is to implement free weekly football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that really saves people’s lives”, he said.

Before and after the football game, 7._______________ openly share their concerns with a number on a scale of zero to ten.

The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and mentally, such as tackling substance 8._______________.

Pinkney spoke of the friendships securely formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that trust with our sessions”.

Head In The Game were previously 9._______________ in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive funding and partnership from various foundations.

In 2023 they plan to launch the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and 10._______________ roll out to other towns.

Answers
  1. scheme
  2. therapy
  3. fundamentally
  4. established
  5. founder
  6. mission
  7. participants
  8. abuse
  9. finalists
  10. eventually

interactive  |  top

Fill-in first letters

Add the missing letters.

_ _ocal _ootball _cheme _n _he UK _hat _elps _en _ith _heir _ental _ealth _as _roven _horoughly _uccessful.

_ommunities _n _ent _an _oin _ootball _nd _herapy _essions, _hanks _o _ead _n _he _ame.

_he _nitiative _ims _undamentally _o _elp _en _ho _truggle _ith _roblems _ike _epression _nd _nxiety _n _heir _veryday _ife.

_he _ompany _as _stablished _n 2021 _irectly _s _ _esponse _o _he _ovid _andemic _nd _ts _mpact _n _ental _ealth.

_he _ounder _f _he _ompany Mark Pinkney _aid _alf _he _attle _s _on, “_f _e _re _pfront _nd _onest _bout _hese _ypes _f _ubjects”.

_he _ompany’s _ission _s _o _mplement _ree _eekly _ootball _essions _or _en _ged 18-55 _o _ather _nd _hare _eelings, “_t’s _ll _bout _alking, _t’s _he _alking _hat _eally _aves _eople’s _ives”, _e _aid.

_efore _nd _fter _he _ootball _ame, _articipants _penly _hare _heir _oncerns _ith _ _umber _n _ _cale _f _ero _o _en.

_he _ocus _s _n _romoting _ellbeing _oth _hysically _nd _entally, _uch _s _ackling _ubstance _buse.

Pinkney _poke _f _he _riendships _ecurely _ormed _n _ootball _eams, “_hat _e _ry _nd _o _s _arness _hat _rust _ith _ur _essions”.

_ead _n _he _ame _ere _reviously _inalists _n _he BBC’s _ake _ _ifference _ward _n 2022 _nd _eceive _unding _nd _artnership _rom _arious _oundations.

_n 2023 _hey _lan _o _aunch _he _rogramme _or _ _ifferent _port, _rogress _o _omen’s _ootball, _nd _ventually _oll _ut _o _ther _owns.

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Cool-down discussion, game, and keywords

Discussion questions:

  • On a scale of one to ten, how fit are you?
  • Is it possible to rate happiness on a scale?
  • Why are sports effective at improving our mental wellbeing?
  • Which sports personality do you get inspiration from?
  • What sports are cheap to participate in and what ones are expensive?

CEFR B2 10 keywords revision list:

community establish fund implement initiative launch scale struggle tackle trust

Scattergories. In the table below, add one word to each box that matches both the beginning letter and the category, e.g. a feeling beginning with T is tiredness.

T E A M
A feeling
A type of community
Something healthy to do
Something unhealthy to eat
A drink

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Interactive exercises

Reading comprehension interactive true or false

Choose the correct options from the pairs

Football company directly tackles mental health

A local football scheme in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven thoroughly successful. Communities in Kent can join football and therapy sessions, thanks to Head In The Game. The initiative aims fundamentally to help men who struggle with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.

The company was established in 2021 directly as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health. The founder of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”. The company’s mission is to implement free weekly football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that really saves people’s lives”, he said.

Before and after the football game, participants openly share their concerns with a number on a scale of zero to ten. The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and mentally, such as tackling substance abuse. Pinkney spoke of the friendships securely formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that trust with our sessions”.

Head In The Game were previously finalists in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive funding and partnership from various foundations. In 2023 they plan to launch the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and eventually roll out to other towns.

1.
The scheme runs football sessions as a therapy.
2.
The aim of the scheme is to help fathers save money.
3.
A pandemic inspired the founder to start the company.
4.
The football is free but the therapy costs half its usual price.
5.
The players describe their mental wellbeing with a number.
6.
In the sessions depression, anxiety, and drugs are discussed.
7.
The founder believes football can create trust and support.
8.
The company won a BBC competition.
9.
The scheme plans on expanding around the UK.
10.
Schools are next on the list for the company’s growth.

lesson  |  top

Phrases, synonyms, and antonyms interactive match-up

Select the correct matches from the dropdown menus

Phrases
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Synonyms
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Antonyms
16.
17.
18.

lesson  |  top

Grammar gap-fill interactive cloze: adverbs of degree, manner, and time

Select the correct answers from the dropdown menus

A local football scheme in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven
1.
successful. Communities in Kent can join football and therapy sessions, thanks to Head In The Game. The initiative aims
2.
to help men who struggle with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.
The company was established in 2021
3.
as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health. The founder of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”. The company’s mission is to implement free
4.
football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that
5.
saves people’s lives”, he said.
Before and after the football game, participants
6.
share their concerns with a number on a scale of zero to ten. The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and
7.
, such as tackling substance abuse. Pinkney spoke of the friendships
8.
formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that trust with our sessions”.
Head In The Game were
9.
finalists in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive funding and partnership from various foundations. In 2023 they plan to launch the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and
10.
roll out to other towns.

lesson  |  top

Vocabulary multiple-choice interactive cloze

Select the correct answers from the dropdown menus

A local football scheme in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven thoroughly successful.
1.
in Kent can join football and therapy sessions, thanks to Head In The Game. This
2.
aims fundamentally to help men who
3.
with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.
The company was
4.
in 2021 directly as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health. The founder of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”. The company’s mission is to
5.
free weekly football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that really saves people’s lives”, he said.
Before and after the football game, participants openly share their concerns with a number on a
6.
of zero to ten. The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and mentally, such as
7.
substance abuse. Pinkney spoke of the friendships securely formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that
8.
with our sessions”.
Head In The Game were previously finalists in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive
9.
and partnership from various foundations. In 2023 they plan to
10.
the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and eventually roll out to other towns.

lesson  |  top

Interactive writing cloze

Type the words correctly in the boxes

A local football
1.
in the UK that helps men with their mental health has proven thoroughly successful. Communities in Kent can join football and
2.
sessions, thanks to Head In The Game. The initiative aims
3.
to help men who struggle with problems like depression and anxiety in their everyday life.
The company was
4.
in 2021 directly as a response to the Covid pandemic and its impact on mental health. The
5.
of the company Mark Pinkney said half the battle is won, “if we are upfront and honest about these types of subjects”. The company’s
6.
is to implement free weekly football sessions for men aged 18-55 to gather and share feelings, “it’s all about talking, it’s the talking that really saves people’s lives”, he said.
Before and after the football game,
7.
openly share their concerns with a number on a scale of zero to ten. The focus is on promoting wellbeing both physically and mentally, such as tackling substance
8.
. Pinkney spoke of the friendships securely formed in football teams, “what we try and do is harness that trust with our sessions”.
Head In The Game were previously
9.
in the BBC’s Make A Difference Award in 2022 and receive funding and partnership from various foundations. In 2023 they plan to launch the programme for a different sport, progress to women’s football, and
10.
roll out to other towns.

lesson  |  top

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