Changes to Coach Education
Click HERE if you would like to register an interest in completing the new Introduction to Coaching Football course. Here, you can learn more about the course, begin your FA Playmaker journey and express your interest ahead of the launch.
For more information please contact Education@TheFA.com
CHANGES TO COACH EDUCATION
FA Education are committed to supporting football coaches in the role that they do, at every level of the game. As part of their new 4-year strategy to further improve support to coaches and the game, from April 2021 FA Education will take on full responsibility for delivering all coach education courses.
This change coincides with improvements FA Education are making to the ways through which coaches can learn. In addition to face-to-face support delivered by the Grassroots coach development team and the tutor-learner interactions that underpin many of the courses, new digital learning opportunities are being introduced to give coaches the option to pick and choose learning that interests them and undertake it at a time that suits them.
This modernised offer, which utilises digital delivery in addition to the traditional face to face and pitch side sessions, will open up more learning opportunities for coaches and help develop a culture of on-going learning.
HOW WILL COURSES BE AFFECTED?
The first grassroots courses to be redeveloped and launched this Summer 2021 are:
- Introduction to Coaching Football (previously known as the FA Level 1 in Coaching Football) – available to book now
- Safeguarding Children Course – available to book now
- Introduction to First Aid in Football – available to book now
- Emergency First Aid in Football (Level 2) – available to book now
- Welfare Officers Course – available to book now
- Disability Football Introduction – available to book now
Other courses also being reviewed, both in terms of content and delivery, include those listed below. Whilst this review continues no new courses will be started and, when they resume, they will be managed centrally by England Football Learning and not through County FAs. As soon as we have further information on these it will be shared through the usual channels.
- FA Level 2
- FA Level 3 (UEFA B)*
- Goalkeeping Level 1 & 2
- Futsal Level 1 & 2
- Developing Adults Through Mentoring
*This does not affect the 2020 cohort; this course will run through to completion.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR HAMPSHIRE FA?
As of January 2021, County FAs are no longer responsible for any NEW coach education course delivery. The main contact for FA course queries is FA Education (education@thefa.com). Our members of staff will remain, with their roles being repurposed within the organisation so we will retain the expertise required to support learners through this change.
Beyond this our long-term focus will be on wider coach development and our aim will be to ensure our clubs receive the support they need to enable their coaches to provide great sessions for their players. This will include working with FA Education to deliver an exciting programme of learning opportunities across a range of topics relevant to our coaches and the grassroots game and will be driven through the Hampshire FA Coaches Community.
HOW CAN I CONTINUE MY LEARNING JOURNEY IN THE SHORT TERM?
Although COVID-19 is having a significant impact on our ability to deliver any coach education, there are lots of immediate opportunities to continue your learning journey. The Boot Room is a vital coaching resource and contains a range of different learning resources for coaches to explore; from articles on emerging trends and latest best practice to inspirational interviews, you can also browse FA learning opportunities and find the next step on your coaching journey.
For anyone looking to take a more active role and volunteer in their local club or start their coaching journey, The FA Playmaker course, supported by BT, is a free online course providing users with the knowledge and skills to make a positive difference at their local club or team. You can sign up to the course at TheFA.com/Playmaker
Locally, as referenced above, we have the Hampshire FA Coaches Community which we encourage all our grassroots coaches to join. The HFACC will continue to be at the heart of grassroots coaching development in Hampshire and will offer localised support for our members in the shape of face-to-face CPD events (when safe to do so), online support and an ever-developing platform to help support coaches better this season and beyond. To get involved, sign up here.
A NOTE FROM OUR COACH EDUCATION TEAM:
This is a sad time for our team, especially for our longest serving member - Jackie Binnington – who has worked at Hampshire FA for 22 years, most of which have been spent leading the programme. We are thankful that our new roles will allow us to support our grassroots coaches through their qualifications for the time being and look forward to the new opportunities this will provide for us moving into the new season.
We’d like to thank Austin Harris and the whole tutor workforce, our delivery partners at Eastleigh College and all the venues and clubs we have worked with over the years. With your support we believe we have delivered a high-quality coach education programme and inspired a generation of coaches.
Finally, we want to thank each and every one of our coaches for your dedication to the grassroots game and your own development. It has been a pleasure to work alongside you and see each of you grow on your own unique coaching journeys. We look forward to continuing this support as we move into a new realm of coach development and learning for the future.
FAQS
Please visit the FA Help Centre to see a full list of FAQs. If you have any further questions which have not been answered in the FAQs, please submit to coacheducation@hampshirefa.com with the subject header FAQs.