A FOOTBALL club is putting on coaching courses as an incentive for schoolchildren to do their homework.

Darlington FC is one of 22 clubs in the country taking part in the Football and Schools Together (Fast) Forward.

Coaches from the club's football in the community scheme will visit three schools a week.

The project rewards attendance at homework clubs with an hour of professional coaching.

The first session run by the team will take place today at Longfield School. Other schools taking part in the scheme are Eastbourne School and the Education Village.

It is the third year the club has run the scheme.

Kevin Stonehouse, from Darlington Football in the Community, said: "We have done if for the last couple of years - it was set up a few years ago. We had up to 60 kids a week in the past.

"It is a great idea to help the kids. It is a great way to get the children to better themselves.

"They don't always think they can achieve much, but with this they have proved they can."

The children play skills games, some of which also combine numeracy skills.

Up to 20 children, aged from 12 to 16, from each school take part in the project.

The £270,000 national scheme has been funded by sports charity the Football Foundation and is managed by Manchester Metropolitan University's Collaborative Partnerships Office.

Liz Marr, project director and head of widening participation at the university, said: "Homework clubs are an excellent idea, but they are not always attractive for youngsters and this is where Fast Forward comes in.

"Football is a very powerful motivator and can be a real force in inspiring children and encouraging participation.

"Recent research has also shown that children who are physically active are up to eight times more likely to excel at exams."