Course Information:
Minimum Age: 17
Course Duration: 90 hours
Course Prerequisites: 1st4Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football
Course aims and objectives: This nationally recognised qualification will provide candidates who have an ongoing involvement in the coaching of team football, with the opportunity to gain knowledge of how to effectively apply the principles of performance profiling, goal setting and designing, planning, delivering and evaluating a football coaching programme and practice.
Course Content:
Theory: The course will introduce a number of key aspects related to the role of a football coach in working with youth players. These are delivered via home-based study tasks and Tutor delivered workshops and include:
Fitness assessment and planning
An introduction to match and player analysis
Team performance profiling and goal setting
Management of safe and equitable coaching environments
Psychological analysis and profiling
Nutrition and drug awareness.
Practical: The practical elements of the course will provide the following:
The principles of attacking: to include detailed consideration of attacking from wide and central areas, counter attacking, switching play and finishing
The principles of defending: to include detailed consideration of defending effectively in wide/central areas, pressurising and defending when both organised and outnumbered
Midfield play: to include support play for front players, possession in key areas and use of width
Goalkeeping: to include support for the defensive unit, the ability to deal with crosses, maintain possession momentum and the development of shot stopping
Set play: to include the effective organisation in defending and attacking from free kicks, corners and throw ins
In addition candidates will have the opportunity to undertake two observed practical coaching sessions with their Tutor and receive feedback based on selected criteria. This will form the basis of an opportunity to deliver 10 hours of coaching in the candidate's work place, with their team, to apply the experience gained from the course of training.
Practical Involvement: Candidates will be encouraged to participate practically to maximise their opportunities for learning (This however will not prevent successful completion of the award).
Assessment: Assessment is via successful completion of:
1. All pre-requisites (First Aid/Safeguarding Children/FAL Laws of the Game Exam/Online course)
2. All portfolio tasks
3. The practical delivery of two planned 25 minute practical coaching sessions from the course syllabus, as follows:
a phase of play
a small sided game (8v8) or a functional practice
Re-assessment: Candidates can be reassessed within a 24 month period from registration.
Refresher: Every 3 years as specified in The FAL Level 3 CPD and Refresher Policy.