25 Mar 2011

FA Youth Module Awards

The Football Association have rolled out three new qualifications. I am often asked what they are about and why should coaches take them, so we have put together some information on them and provided links for you to find out more.

To watch a short promotional film on the new FA Youth Modules, click on this link

http://www.thefa.com/GetIntoFootball/FALearning/FALearningPages/youthcoaching.aspx#

The Football Association have put together a very useful online resource explaining what coaching courses they offer, to access the resource, please click on this link: http://cde.cerosmedia.com/1S4d380c3d13b14123.cde

How well do you know your young players?

Do you really understand what motivates them, what they find difficult and how you can help to develop them?

The FA Youth Award is a groundbreaking new coaching course designed to help coaches to understand as much about their players as they understand about the game.

As coaches, we often spend a lot of time focusing on training drills, fixtures and match days . Wouldn’t it be great if we stepped back from all that and looked at each of our young players individually.

• What motivates them to play football?
• How can we build their self esteem?
• How can we manage differences in age, experience, ability and attitude?
• Can we create the right environment for young people to learn?
• Teach them strategies for managing mistakes?
• Tailor practice sessions according to age, ability, experience and maturity?

The course is split into three modules and an introductory module.

The Introductory Module is for coaches with a qualified teacher status and successful completion can serve as an entry point to Module One. Coaches with a Level One certificate in Coaching Football can go straight to Module One without taking the Introductory Module.

Module One of The FA Youth Award focuses on creating the right environment for the child to learn. This was launched last year and feedback has already been very encouraging. Both grassroots and elite coaches have found the sessions highly useful for their development as youth coaches.

Module Two has just been launched. This focuses on developing practice sessions which can be tailored according to the age, ability and experience of different young players. Initial feedback suggests this course is proving to be beneficial for coaches who want to develop their knowledge further.

FA Youth Award Module 1 – Developing the Environment FA YOUTH AWARD MODULE 1

Course Information:

■Minimum Age: 16

■Course Duration: 32 hours

■Course Prerequisites: Minimum 1st4sport Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football or Qualified Teacher (QTS) who has completed the Age Appropriate Coaching – Introductory Module

■Who is it for: Aimed at Coaches, at all levels, who wish to extend their knowledge of coaching young players. There are generic strands relating to teaching and learning, motivation and self-esteem that are suitable for most coaches.

■Course aims and objectives: The course will provide practical sessions and advice for when coaching this age group, and will increase the candidate’s knowledge of how develop their coaching to incorporate The FA 4 corner model. The course will cover technical development and in the physical corner it will offer FUNdamental ideas for the coach to use as well as suggested activities for the development of football specific movements. The important Social and Psychological development of the young player is also examined.

■Leading to: FA Youth Award Module 2 – Developing the Practice

Course Content:

Theory: The course will introduce some key aspects in the following:

■The importance of the social corner and how it links with the 4 corners.

■How players learn

■Motivation

■Self-Esteem

■Managing Mistakes

■Managing Physical, Technical, Social and Psychological Difference

■Planning Activity

Practical: Practical elements of the course will provide an introduction to:

■Physical corner FUNdamental warm-ups

■Practical activities and games

Practical Involvement: Candidates will be encouraged to participate practically to maximise their opportunities for learning.

Suggested additional learning opportunities:

■FAL Online Courses: Coaching Children, Running a Club, Futsal Laws of the Game, Football Camp Coaches, Planning, Preparing and Evaluating Coaching Sessions, Disciplinary, Fitness in Football Level 1, Psychology for Football Level 1, Player and Match Analysis.

■FA Youth Award Module 2 – Developing the Practice

■1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football

■FA Goalkeeping Coaching Award (Level 1)

■FAL Coaching Adults Course

■Introduction to Futsal Course

■Coaching Disabled Footballers Course

■Education Modules (selection of eight)

Equality: FA Learning will ensure that it treats people fairly and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunities for all members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, it’s activities in an atmosphere free from harassment, bullying, discrimination or abuse. FA Learning will seek to provide a service which is appropriate to the needs of an individual and to make reasonable adjustments or provide support, where appropriate, to cater for those needs.