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FA Coaching Badges


Ash

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Has anyone on here got any of the FA coaching badges? If so, what are the courses like? Been something I've planned on doing for years but just recently I've had the urge to really get stuck into it and start on my Level 1 badge.

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I did the first one about 10 years ago and it was absolute fucking rubbish. Might have changed now like.

 

I hope so! Did you pay for the course? Been reading up on it and it sounds as though you can do it for free if you do it through a college.

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I did the first one about 10 years ago and it was absolute fucking rubbish. Might have changed now like.

 

I hope so! Did you pay for the course? Been reading up on it and it sounds as though you can do it for free if you do it through a college.

 

Nah I got it free through college. Good luck to you though if thats what you want to do. :thup:

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Northumberland FA Normal charge is £110 or £100 if you work within a charter standard club.

 

A lot of Junior Football Clubs will pay for you to do the course as long as you commit to coaching for a minimum period (our club asks for a one year commitment).

 

I did the course last year and it is aimed at the coaching of young players, I have only used a few of the drills they show you for a bit of fun with my 15's.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Well worth it, I can imagine its come a long way since Pedro did it 10 years ago, if only due to the development of football and the understanding/acceptance behind psychology in the game. They're really pushing the 4-Corners development approach and trying to get coaches to develop the mental area of young players, as well as the technical. It even comes across as if they're trying to move away from developing the physical side of the game at all (prefer to let young players develop naturally and then when their fully grown do physical training).

Really strong emphasis to move coaching away from telling to showing/exploring and challenging, which I find works pretty well with the group of kids I've got (keeps them from getting bored and hyper).

 

http://www.northumberlandfa.com/GetIntoFootball/FindAClub/ is a good place to start to find a club in your area, which might pay for you (http://eventspace.thefa.com/northumberlandfa/participant/s.aspx has a list of dates - there is a month long course, or a 5 day intensive course).

 

You'll be given a pack with everything you need to pass (you spend two of the days in a classroom basically filling it in with the Mentor anyway), so all the answers are in books already, which you'll spend a bit time going through. On the weekends (if you do the course spread out over the month) you'll do practical learning, which is basically learning training games out of the pack. Our Mentor took the first practical day and basically 'Coached' us with various games, and explained what he was doing (via coaching methods) so we could see 'how it was done'.

Then he assigned us into pairs and gave us a training game each to work on and develop for a practice session.

 

The mentor we have at the moment is a guy called Andy Brown and he's a great guy (even if he is a Mackem and works with their U15s), has plenty of experience, and keeps things relative.

 

Some Colleges offer the Level 1 as part of their courses, I know my mate got his level 1 through Longbenton Community College when we were in 6th form several years ago. Can't remember what course he did but I think it was possibly Sports Science. I applied for: http://www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/undergraduate/course-information.aspx?courseid=12332 back in the Winter, though I didn't check at the time if that included Level 1 Badges (I get the impression it might), so it might be worthwhile phoning up and checking (if you're interested in learning via a college).

It'll also open the door to further education (http://www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/course-information.aspx?courseid=12473 onto http://www.ncl-coll.ac.uk/course-information.aspx?courseid=12513), how important that is to you or clubs I wouldn't know about yet, but I can't see it hurting to have education behind the badges as well.

 

Nearly all (worthwhile) clubs should offer to put you through your badges if you commit to staying with them for a few years, which will only help you too as come Level2 you need to log 26 hours of coaching, and level3 is beyond that again. Most professional clubs seem to require coaches to have a UEFA B License, which is the complete Lvl2 and Lvl3 badges - there's a career pathway guide in the level1 Folder that basically shows you what you need to get where you want to go.

So after Lvl1 you might decide to branch out become a GK Coach or a specialist youth coach.

 

All in all I'd recommend it though they don't teach you the most important tool - how to ignore and wish away Parents who shout their kids throughout the game and complain about playing time  :facepalm: I'd recommend, as tedious as it is, to keep an excel spreadsheet for your formations and how many games each kid has played. At least than you can show it to them during parents meetings.

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I've just finished doing my UEFA B/Level 3 coaching course a couple of weeks ago. This focuses on phases of play, functions and 8v8 small sided games. Which are all really good and different, putting aspects of the game into practices which require hard work from the players.

 

I started doing my coaching badges at the end of 2005 with the level 1, and started coaching u8 football. I then moved onto the level 2 in August 2008 and went to the US coaching in 2009. Then this year decided to make the step up to level 3.

 

The FA keep changing the coaching methods and bringing in new aspects of the game. They have been really big on bringing the 4 corner model for long term player development which focuses on technical, physical, social and psychological aspects players face in the game.

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I would recommend doing it. I'm taking my Level 2 abdge this summer in a couple of weeks time. It's basically impossible to fail your Level 1 though, so its worth the money IMO, you also learn how to do to First Aid which i think is a good thing to have anyway.

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Guest neesy111

talking about coaching, that is the biggest problem facing england, simply the players we produce are woefully inferior others in the big stage

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

I've just finished doing my UEFA B/Level 3 coaching course a couple of weeks ago. This focuses on phases of play, functions and 8v8 small sided games. Which are all really good and different, putting aspects of the game into practices which require hard work from the players.

 

I started doing my coaching badges at the end of 2005 with the level 1, and started coaching u8 football. I then moved onto the level 2 in August 2008 and went to the US coaching in 2009. Then this year decided to make the step up to level 3.

 

The FA keep changing the coaching methods and bringing in new aspects of the game. They have been really big on bringing the 4 corner model for long term player development which focuses on technical, physical, social and psychological aspects players face in the game.

 

Ah nice, hows that going? I was thinking of looking into that next Summer, but wasn't sure how reputable the companies were organising it.

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I did my FA Level 1 in October 2007 and it was fairly simple to pass. You just had to listen to the tutor and learnt a few basic fun games that culminated in a 15 minutes session.

 

I have just finished my FA Level 2 in May 2010 after starting in September 2009. It is a long process as you have to log your coaching sessions into a portfolio, complete tasks on the LTAD, nutrition, safety and then you have an intensive week where you learn the technique, skill and game of 4v4. The assessment can be on any of the 16 selected topics (running with the ball, dribbling etc) and lasts for 35 minutes with you doing a technique, skill and game element. Out of 13 people being assessed on the day 8 passed, but there was 23 people who started the course with me in September.

 

I have been thinking of doing my Level 3 at some stage, but as I work as a coach and have other sports to learn its a case of finding the time. I would like to go to the USA as having a level 2 may be of more benefit to opportunities over there, but its mostly for the experience. There are also other badges like goalkeeping, futsal etc which have been alluded to by others on here.

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Thanks for the replies, guys. Are any of you wanting to get into it professionally?

 

Yes, if i pass my Level 2 i will really be looking into a possible career. I have contacted Gateshead over any possible job to just get my foot in the door including maintenance etc...

However, i'm not sure which uni course in Sports Science would be the best to help me

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Thanks for the replies, guys. Are any of you wanting to get into it professionally?

 

Looking into it, as a minimum you'll need UEFA B License, and then depending on what area you want to coach perhaps another badge in that area (age specific if you want to work in the academies). Still waiting to hear back from Newcastle College about the Coaching Course that leads to Sports Science Degree, which can only be a bonus, but I think the Clearance isn't over until August so still time yet.

 

The only concern I have is any possible prejudice towards coaches who weren't former pros, but I'll just keep at it until I get something going. US Coaching for 3-6 months would be valuable experience, like any other job, I guess, its about building up your CV and selling yourself.

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My nephew is doing his, loves it, last one he was on he was the youngest on the course he's 16, Boro's goalkeeping coach was on the course along with a lot of other full time coaches.

His boys club are paying for him to do his badges, as long as he stays involved with the club for I think its the next 5 years, helping out coaching the younger kids.

Its what he wants to do, he will be away to the states next year for 6 months doing some coaching over there. Seems its getting bigger and bigger kids who cannot make it as players wanting to try and make it as a coach.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

The one thing I have noticed, though it could be my poor searching techniques, is that its hard to come by any jobs being advertised for coaches. I've seen plenty of posh schools wanting to develop football, but very little for actual teams. The only decent source I've found so far are the regional FA websites, but only a few have jobs advertised.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

To answer my own question its best to phone/contact your local FA as they have jobs on file even if they're not on the websites (some clubs prefer privacy).

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I've just finished doing my UEFA B/Level 3 coaching course a couple of weeks ago. This focuses on phases of play, functions and 8v8 small sided games. Which are all really good and different, putting aspects of the game into practices which require hard work from the players.

 

I started doing my coaching badges at the end of 2005 with the level 1, and started coaching u8 football. I then moved onto the level 2 in August 2008 and went to the US coaching in 2009. Then this year decided to make the step up to level 3.

 

The FA keep changing the coaching methods and bringing in new aspects of the game. They have been really big on bringing the 4 corner model for long term player development which focuses on technical, physical, social and psychological aspects players face in the game.

 

Ah nice, hows that going? I was thinking of looking into that next Summer, but wasn't sure how reputable the companies were organising it.

 

I am back in England now. Was out in New Jersery from March til August last year. The job was brilliant coaching all the time, with different levels of players. Quite a lot of the companies are in NJ, I would say that if you have an interview in the UK then it should be alright really.

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Guest ObiChrisKenobi

Final assessment next week.

 

I've got Moves in Twos. My U10s are going to be practising that on Tuesday!

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I did my level 3 here in Australia 15 years ago. It was brilliant and I learned a lot.

 

For my major session, I was told that the next day, I was to put a half an hour session using the Victorian under 21 womans team on penetration.

 

So, I went home and video taped me shagging the wife. Only problem was my "visual aid" took up most of the morning session.

 

Only joking lads....................I recommend anyone to do these courses because if you think you know a lot about football beforehand, you will find out just how little you actually know afterwards.

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