In 1997 The Football Association launched its Talent Development Plan for Women's Football, as part of The FA's Charter for Quality, to provide a sound structure for the development of elite talent. An integral part of this plan is the establishment and development of for girls aged 10 to 16. The purpose of the Centers is to identify players of outstanding ability and place them in a technical and educational programme designed to produce excellence in conjunction with personal development.
The criteria for the Centers is as follows:
Staffing
A Centre Director will be appointed to oversee the programme of coaching and education.
The Centre Director will hold The FA Advanced / 'A' License.
The Centre Director must be present at all times (if this is not possible a deputy must be identified as a replacement).
Additional coaches will have the minimum qualification of The FA Level 2 Certificate in coaching Football.
All staff will be suitably screened and registered by The Football Association.
All staff will be committed to a minimum of 18 hours continuing professional development per year through specific in-service training provided by The Football Association.
All staff to maintain a personal portfolio of their personal Continuing Professional Development Plans.
The coach / pupil ration will be 1 : 16.
Facilities
It is the responsibility of the centres of excellence to provide safe and adequate facilities.
The facilities must include the following:
Outdoor coaching areas 60 x 40 yards
Changing rooms / shower
Separate medical room
Either: floodlit outdoor area (minimum 50 x 30 yards) or indoor sports hall (minimum 50 x 30 yards)
Operational Requirements
Centres of Excellence will operate for the following age groups:
U10 (within 2 year age banding)
U12 (within 2 year age banding)
U14 (within 2 year age banding)
U16 (within 2 year age banding)
Registered players must receive a minimum of 1 ½ hours coaching a week.
Players are not permitted to travel for more than 1 ½ hours from their place of residence to the Centre.
A Centre must operate for a minimum of 20 weeks per year.
The Football Association will provide an outline of the required learning programme and provide the necessary support service to assist clubs in the delivery of their programme.
Fixtures
To enhance the player's development, a programme of fixtures should be seen as an integral part of the child’s development.
Any player registered at a Centre of Excellence must be registered with a team.
Each player will participate in a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 40 games per year (including school, club, Centre of Excellence, Representative and International matches).
The establishment of 52 Centres of Excellences throughout England are an integral part of the Football Associations female player development pathway and is the pinnacle from which our Youth International players are selected.
The ‘Philosophy’ of each centre is to disseminate both technical and theoretical information to each player stimulating the players learning. To this end, the precept must be to promote a player centred approach allowing the ‘game to be the teacher’ when appropriate and encompass the principles of Long Term Player Development
Therefore, each centre must consider the needs of each player and take account of their developmental stage from a growth, development and maturation perspective and implement a programme to develop young players who have and can maximise their potential in the short but ultimately in the longer term
The Lincoln City Girls Centre of Excellence Football is based at Lincoln City FC with Richard Cooper as the centre director, who develops a programme to suit all the players based within the programme.
Lincoln City FA Centre of Excellence for girls, part of the FA talent identification programme, produces talented young players between the ages of 10 and 16.
The Girls train at Lincoln City FC, every Monday and Wednesday evening. The Centre of Excellence has teams at U10, U12, U14 and U16 level.
The teams play in the Centre of Excellence League for the North Region. The home matches are played on Saturday mornings at Robert Pattinson School, North Hykeham, Lincoln.
How do I get recognised for the Girls Centre of Excellence
Each year around June / July FITC holds trials, to attend contact Richard Cooper
Receiving a recommendation from your team manager or school teacher
Or attending a 4 week Trial, contact Richard Cooper
Richard Cooper richard.cooper@redimps.com
For further details on gaining a trial call our Centre Administrator on 01522 563792
or email Jane Cooper – jane.cooper@redimps.com