About the online challenges

Our online challenges are essentially reading comprehension exercises, with texts taken from fiction, non-fiction, websites, magazines, poems and plays. They can be completed by pupils during class, at lunchtimes or at home (where their parents can also be encouraged to get involved).

In each challenge, a Premier League player reads aloud an extract of text and asks two related multiple-choice questions, followed by a third relating to elsewhere in that same text. The answer to the third question can typically be found later in the first chapter (for books) or elsewhere in the article (for online sources). This means children need to read further to complete the challenge. Hyperlinks are provided for online articles and, where permission has been granted by publishers, a downloadable pdf file is provided for book chapters. Hopefully, this will inspire them to read the rest of the book, too.

Schools that buy or receive a free resource pack also receive a 30% discount on challenge texts from Browns Books for Students, and on books named as favourites by the players. However, you do not NEED to purchase any of these titles in order to deliver the programme or use the online challenges.

Levels of difficulty

Each player delivers three challenges targeted at different reading levels. As far as the children are concerned, the language will feel like a video game, with no mention of reading ability or school year. However, the following information may help you to provide direction as necessary:

Professional level

Aimed at those reading at Year 3/4 ability

World class level

Aimed at those reading at Year 4/5 ability

Legendary level

Aimed at those reading at Year 5/6 ability

You may find that pupils choose to focus on a particular player and wish to complete all of their challenges. This is great as it will encourage them to stretch themselves, though some assistance may be needed to guide them through to “Legendary” status. Equally, they could simply take all of the challenges at their ability level. Either option offers a realistic opportunity for achievement. The really keen might try to do all 60.

Rewards

Completion of challenges is rewarded: for each completed challenge pupils can access either a downloadable poster or signed certificate from the player, or watch exclusive film footage of them. 

In addition, schools that buy or receive a free resource pack are provided with a unique school number, which pupils should use when completing challenges. There is space in pupils' reading journals for them to make note of your school number, alongside the web address. Those who complete at least 20 challenges will go into a raffle to win special Premier League prizes provided by clubs. We will use the number to identify their school and notify the teacher who is our primary contact. Please ensure your pupils enter their name in a way that you can identify them. No further contact details are requested from pupils. 

Last year children across the country won signed shirts, boots and pictures from their heroes.