The Youth League project is a funded initiative to support leagues across the county with theory and practical based workshops aimed at developing the knowledge and skill set of their coaching workforce. The key aim of the initiative is to support our dedicated volunteers in understanding how to create and maintain a positive, safe, and engaging football and learning environment for their players.

So far, there has been over 250 attendees across 11 events, which has led to coaches accruing over 900 CPD hours, which can help maintaining coaching qualifications and assisting with enrolment onto future courses.

The Blackwater and Dengie Youth Football League are one of the Leagues who have been involved in our Youth League Workshops.

Stuart Emerson, who is a committee member of the league, said “We, at BDYFL, were really pleased to be part of this initiative with ECFA and to help provide the new coach volunteers in our league with some further help and assistance on their coaching journeys.” 

“It was great to see so many new faces starting out on their time in youth football.  Initiatives and events like this help us to work with our member clubs on raising the standard of coaching available for all of the children that are able to play football through the hard work and dedication of their volunteers and we will look to continue to develop our future collaboration to be able to continue to help a wider group of coaches and all of our member clubs.”

Tom Sibthorpe, Essex FA Coaching Development Officer, is delighted with the ongoing programme. “Developing a positive, safe, and engaging environment in which our children and young people can play and participate is a key focus of ours at the Essex FA.”

“The Youth League programme has helped us to support hundreds of dedicated volunteers across the County, to help not only promote this message, but also provide coaches and volunteers with practical ideas and advice to take back to their clubs.”

“The feedback we have received has been very positive, and we can’t wait to continue working with and across the leagues, and their members, to help build on top of the programme’s success.”

If you’re interested in the Youth League Workshops, please email Thomas.Sibthorpe@EssexFA.com