In order to begin a successful coaching career, you will first need to start learning what it takes to be a coach. The FA’s coaching system is not only an excellent place to begin to put together your coaching career, but it is also the mandated route for the vast majority of coaching roles. Broken down over 8 guided face-to-face workshops and three e-learning modules, the course is run by local football associations all over the country. These courses are usually laid on over weekends, and allow those who already have a full-time career the chance to pursue a career in coaching.

The FA Level 1 in Coaching Football course will give you an insight into many areas of the game and is a great starting place for would-be coaches. For those who wish to develop a career as one of our coaches, the course is a fantastic introduction to the game and a vital element to becoming a professional coach.

The Course Itself

The FA Level 1 in Coaching Football course is very much meant as an introduction to coaching the game of football. The course works to give you an initial knowledge of the game and how to coach it. The course is aimed at those who will be working with children but is suitable for use right through the age spectrum.

The focus on children is highlighted by the inclusion of a safeguarding children workshop that is one of the final steps required in order to pass level 1. Once you have completed the FA Level 1 in Coaching Football course, you will be able to work in a variety of settings in order to enhance your skills. The course is the first step on the FA’s core coaching pathway and should set you on your way to developing as a coach. As you progress, you will be able to take further courses that will enable you to broaden your skills and develop further.

The course is broken down into the following 8 workshops:

Workshop 1 & 2 – Build a practice

The initial session will give you an overview of what is to come in the course. It will also provide an overview of coaching, the game of football, how the game is played in England specifically and how to begin building practice sessions for your players.

Workshop 3 & 4 – Develop a practice

Workshops 3 & 4 lead on from the first block. First of all, you will review what you learned in the first session, and then you will begin to develop your knowledge of the game to a deeper level. This session is the first in which you will encounter the term EnglandDNA – which has become a way of guiding certain principles of play. This second set of workshops go into deeper technical components of the game and should give you a deeper understanding of the game as it is played in England. You will also develop a practice for your players.

Workshop 5 & 6 – Extend a practice

The third set of workshops is centred on putting all that you have learned so far into practice. First off, you will review the previous block of workshops to ensure a complete understanding, you will then move onto more holistic areas of coaching – such as managing yourself, your players and even their parents on a match day. This is actually a vital component of success in coaching and is linked to the wider theme of this workshop which is what goes on around the game as well as the game itself. Coaches are vital in ensuring that not only are teams successful, they are also well looked after.

Workshop 7 & 8 – FA Safeguarding Children & FA Level 1 Intro to First Aid in Football

The final set of workshops concentrate on another important facet of the game: safeguarding. The FA Level 1 in Coaching Football allows you to work with children from the age of 7. Clearly, there are specific concerns and responsibilities that coaches are able to help with outside of the game. Often coaches are trusted individuals for children, and it is important that coaches learn about their roles and responsibilities when it comes to the children in their care. This is a big part of our own belief system, and we work hard to ensure that the children in the care of our coaches are well looked after.

What This Means For You

In order to get your coaching career off of the ground, you will need to gain the FA Level 1 in Coaching Football. You will need to contact your local football association who will let you know when courses are being run in your area. Your local football association will also be able to give you information on what is going on in your area, and can even help you to find a team to play for if you were looking for a game yourself.

If you are looking to take up the challenge and excitement of a career in football coaching then we can help. Our model helps you to set up on your own and create a successful coaching career, backed by a trusted brand who can help you to make a success of your newly chosen career. Whether you want to switch careers, or are just looking for a way to earn a little more money, our flexible options put you in control of your career. Football coaching is so rewarding, and by becoming a professional coach, you can help the next generation of footballers reach the top. So get in touch today and talk to us about starting your new and exciting football coaching career today.