Dubai Sports City announced a strategic partnership with SOCATOTS – a fun and lively, soccer-specific physical play program for children from six months to five years – to further encourage active and healthy lifestyles from an early age.

The SOCATOTS program teaches basic ball skills, movement and co-ordination exercises in a fun and playful environment, and has proved hugely successful around the world as a great tool to encourage toddlers to take their first steps to fitness.

SOCATOTS is the brainchild of Simon Clifford, an English football coach who started the program in the UK and used his academic knowledge of coaching and his teaching experience to develop his own coaching program.

The courses extend far beyond just physical exercise, SOCATOTS aims to improve balance and co-ordination, further develop cognitive skills, enhance every muscle and bone development, increase self confidence, and demonstrate the benefits of keeping fit through a number of learning exercises.

Research has shown that children who are physically active from a young age are more likely to have better concentration skills in the classroom, and this is the philosophy that underpins the SOCATOTS programme.

SOCATOTS is more than just a football program. It is an innovative concept where children can learn and play through sport and at the same time strongly encourage parental involvement, resulting in the development of stronger bonds between parents and their children. With SOCATOTS, no child is too young to learn, and through their qualified and dedicated teachers, each toddler can gain a unique, fun, and constructive learning experience through the course offerings. The inaugural SOCATOTS programme, which will launch in early 2009, is slotted to be a big success with the local community and provide sound motor skills development for every child.

Many famous professional athletes are supporters of the SOCATOTS program, including England and Everton's Andy Johnson and Gareth Southgate, Manager of Middlesborough.

The program has already won praise from a squad of senior players and fitness professionals. Carlos Alberto, captain of the 1970 Brazilian World Cup winning side, said: “I cannot believe what I see with SOCATOTS. It is amazing, something completely different and very special. It will have so many benefits for football and for kids in general. Socially, physically and technically I can see this having such a positive influence for future generations across the world.

Founded in England, SOCATOTS is now available in many different countries around the world, including Holland, Singapore, and Canada. The program has received huge acclaim, to include having been voted the Best Football Activity at the What's On 4 Little Ones Awards (UK) 2008.