Changing Lives And Behaviour
Sanchit Singh, England
England Football and Goal Click have teamed up to create a powerful storytelling series spotlighting how grassroots clubs across England bring The FA’s five pillars of Respect the Standard to life. Nine clubs throughout the country have shared the behaviour-focused initiatives they take to promote positive change.
Sanchit Singh is the manager and head coach of Changing Lives FC, a team consisting entirely of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, playing in the Essex Alliance League. Alongside his leadership team, Sanchit promotes positive behaviour within the club by focusing on the distinction between emotions and actions.
My name is Sanchit, and I am a 32-year-old football coach and sports scientist from India. My love for football began with street games and grew as I coached local teams in Vadodara, Gujarat, India after an injury ended my ambitions to play at a professional level.
I pursued a solid educational foundation, studying psychology while working at a football academy and later diving into sports science to deepen my understanding of athletic performance.
My journey took me to Spain, where I earned my degree and completed a fellowship at a professional youth academy. I then pursued a master’s in coaching sciences at the University of Essex, interning as a performance analyst and coach with the AFC Sudbury Women’s team. That season, the team made history by earning promotion to the National League.
David Simmons, Director of the Changing Lives Community Services, saw the team’s success and invited me to work with Changing Lives FC, a refugee football team. His commitment to the community inspired me, providing both purpose and challenge.
Football is more than just a game. It unites people, brings joy, and creates opportunities worldwide. As the world’s most popular sport, it has the power to transform communities. This belief shapes my coaching philosophy today.
Changing Lives FC
Based in Harlow, Essex, Changing Lives FC is a unique team of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees who have escaped difficult circumstances. The club began as a recreational activity but has since become a competitive squad in the Essex Alliance League.
Beyond football, the club is a social hub where young men build friendships, support each other, and find belonging through sport despite language barriers.
As the manager and head coach, I use my experience to develop players who lack access to top facilities and coaching. What makes this club special is seeing people from diverse backgrounds who have faced adversity come together through their shared passion for football.
In previous seasons, the club struggled with players losing control of their emotions due to banter, racial abuse, or unfavourable referee decisions. This often led to arguments, distractions, and players leaving the pitch early.
Players frequently argued with opponents, spectators, and referees. For example, after an opposing player asked one of our players, "Where is your passport?" - despite scoring two goals - our player angrily confronted him, then walked off the pitch, refusing to continue.
This prompted a shift in our approach. We recognised the need for composure and focus in all situations. As a result, we started reinforcing our club values, emphasising respect, positive behaviour, and resilience both on and off the field.
Promoting Positive Behaviour
Changing Lives FC promotes positive behaviour by helping players recognise that emotions from taunts or negative experiences are valid, but responding with misconduct is not. We emphasise the important distinction between emotions and actions.
The first step was helping players accept that change was needed. We then focused on training them to handle situations properly, with clear guidelines that have made a significant impact. We have also assigned leadership roles to players who can guide others through tough moments.
For example, we tell players that if they are feeling angry, they should have a conversation with a team leader to avoid acting on emotion. This helps them practice detaching their actions from their emotions. Only the captain should speak to the referee, and it is important to do so respectfully and calmly.
We also remind them that if someone tries to provoke them, simply ignore them and smile, understanding that this is meant to distract them from the game. If players still struggle to control their emotions, we have them take a moment on the bench to calm down and reflect.
Good behaviour is immediately recognised and praised in front of the team, and increased playing time to reward good behaviour has proven effective in encouraging positive conduct.
During practice, I also intentionally make poor refereeing calls to teach players how to respond appropriately to unfair decisions in real games.
Team Leaders
We have many leaders within the club who help players uphold our code of conduct.
David Simmons, Director of Changing Lives Community Services and Club Founder, has made a significant impact on the community. He consistently supports the team with the resources and opportunities to grow and has excelled as a manager in previous seasons.
Alan Valle, our Vice-Captain, is our on-field emotional guide. He steps in when players struggle with their emotions, using his calm approach to help teammates regain focus and maintain conduct when tensions rise.
Fethi Ahmed, our Assistant Coach, reinforces our behaviour standards by maintaining regular communication with players about discipline expectations. His consistent guidance makes proper conduct a core team value.
As the only British player, Jordan Moore sets a crucial example of positive behaviour. He models the expected standards in all situations, helping newcomers understand how to conduct themselves. His actions offer a practical example of integration for other players to follow.
Ronni Harrison is our Finance Manager and ensures that players have the resources they need to develop while going above and beyond for them in times of need.
Liubov Liushnenko is our Sports Coach whose networking skills and scouting efforts have helped us find top talent.
Julie Griffiths, Kit Manager and Minibus Driver, ensures that we travel safely to matches and keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Ussri Badawi is our Club Captain and a true leader on and off the pitch as he steps up when needed and takes on extra responsibilities when injured.
Ali Abazar is a key team player who always puts the team first and takes responsibility.
Team Values
Our team values are respect, responsibility, discipline, and resilience.
These values guide everything we do. Players and coaches adhere to a simple code of conduct:
Greet everyone – A simple hello builds a strong team spirit.
Shake hands with opponents and officials – Show respect, no matter the result.
Take care of the environment – Clean up after matches, put away equipment, and tidy the changing room.
Respect referee decisions – Accept calls and keep playing, even if they are not in your favour. Be a role model.
Be on time – Arrive as instructed. If late, inform your manager.
By following these habits, we build a respectful, disciplined, and united team on and off the field.
