Coach Education Team Provide Update
Our Coach Education Department have provided an update on courses and development opportunities.
Coaching courses are now transitioning to a central delivery model, which will be delivered by FA Education. The Head of FA Education, Lucy Pearson, recently provided some context to the alterations in an open letter to grassroots learners. Most notably, these changes directly impact the core coaching qualifications (FA Levels 1 and 2, First Aid and Safeguarding Children).
We have supplied an overview of recent updates below. For more course-specific information, please check out the Frequently Asked Questions available via this link.
FA Level 1 in Coaching Football
The FA Level 1 in Coaching Football has now been redeveloped into the FA Introduction to Coaching Football. The course will be delivered entirely online and is due to launch during the week commencing Monday 14th June 2021. Ideal for anyone looking to take a more active role in the game, course dates are expected to be advertised during May.
Please Note: Learners must complete the FA Playmaker Course before starting the Introduction to Coaching Football. You can sign-up to become an FA Playmaker for free via this link.
FA Level 2 in Coaching Football
For learners who are interested in the Level 2 qualification, the course is currently being redeveloped and FA Education will be providing further updates via 'The Boot Room'. We do not expect any further updates on this course prior to summer 2021, whilst many current learners are being supported to complete the qualification.
If you have completed Block 2/3 of the current qualification and require an in-situ support visit, please contact your course tutor in the first instance, who will provide guidance on the next steps. Please get in touch with our Coach Education Department if you require any assistance.
Safeguarding Children Course - New for 2021
On Thursday 22nd April 2021, the new Safeguarding Children Course became available on The Boot Room, which can be accessed via this link.
This online course replaces the previous face-to-face Safeguarding Children Workshop. There will be a £30 fee for the course, and it is valid for two years. After two years, a learner will need to undertake the recertification, at no charge. Recertification requires repeating the course rather than taking a shorter course.
There will be individuals whose certification has expired, or is going to expire before the end of the season. The existing one-hour online recertification is available to these learners until 30th June. After this point, these learners will no longer be able to access the one-hour recertification and, instead, will need to take the new course, which takes between 90-120 minutes to complete.
Introducing First Aid in Football (IFAIF)
FA Education plan to launch the new online course in the week commencing Monday 10th May. Course information will be available here.
Many individuals have extensions on their IFAIF records through until 31st July. In the short term, we advise all new coaches to access the free online FA Playmaker Course, which includes ‘Sudden Cardiac Arrest’ and ‘Concussion’ modules.
Essex County FA Coach Development Programme
Following our communication to all registered 'coaches' and 'managers' in February, we've received a fantastic response to their Coaching Survey & Equality Audit. So far, the responses show that there’s enthusiasm relating to coach support and learning opportunities, particularly through delivery of face-to-face workshops, in both a local format and within a club setting.
Responses are still being welcomed (please click here to complete the short Coaches Survey), to help shape our local Coach Development Programme moving forward. We're committed to supporting grassroots coaches with their ongoing learning and development. We intend to offer a variety of learning and development opportunities, which will be delivered on an individual and club basis, complementing the formal FA qualification pathway.
As part of a new three-year strategy, our Coach Development Programme will continue to support the fantastic volunteer workforce and empower individuals to provide the best possible football experience. More information will be available in the coming weeks, which will be sent directly to clubs and shared via our website and social media channels.
Useful Links
Learners can manage their qualifications and access further learning opportunities via The FA’s ‘My Account’ section by following this link. There’s also a huge range of coaching resources, session ideas and top tips available via The Boot Room. Here, learners can search for information specific to the age group they coach, helping them and their players to continue learning.
The new community section also allows coaches to join the conversation and interact with a team of coach developers. It’s also recommended to check out the Essex County FA YouTube channel, with playlists dedicated to coaching content, as well as the FA Learning YouTube channel, which contains a wide variety of coaching ideas to support coaches in their role.
Information on grassroots Essex coaching and development can be found in the 'Coaches' menu above, by following @EssexCountyFA and @EssexCoaches on Twitter and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.