High profiles speakers at FACA Conference 2010.
Buy The Future Game online here.
The Elite version is also available here
Over 600 coaches are at Wembley on Thursday for the annual FA Coaches Association Conference, which celebrates the future of coaching in England with the launch of the new Future Game document for technical coaching at grassroots level.
Having released the professional game version of the document in May this year, The FA has now produced its grassroots version - a technical document aimed at developing a new generation of young players through ‘age appropriate’ football coaching.
The coaches, from The FA’s Coaching Association (FACA), assembled at Wembley to hear from England Manager Fabio Capello, England Under-21 Coach Stuart Pearce and Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce.
The FA’s Coaches’ Partner, McDonald’s, was represented by their Head of Coaching, Eric Harrison, the man who is best known for encouraging one of Manchester United’s greatest generation of young players, including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
The coaches were also invited to take part in a practical session on the Wembley pitch, aimed at bringing
The Future Game to life.
Commenting on the launch, Sir Trevor Brooking, The FA’s Director of Football Development said: “After the disappointment of last week’s World Cup Bid decision it’s more important than ever that we concentrate on the future development of our young players and a strong coaching workforce behind them.
“If we want to create decent young players, we need coaches who can engage children in the game and make them fall in love with football.
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The Future Game is about giving players a positive experience of football - an experience which captures their imagination, ignites their enthusiasm and keeps them hungry to learn.”
Designed for coaches and teachers,
The Future Game highlights how the grassroots game is different to the adult professional game, and how coaches can manage eager parents’ expectations. It contains practical sessions for the training pitch as well as theories and ideas on the development of players of different ages with differing needs.
The guide addresses issues around the development of skills, competitiveness within youth football and the environment in which to best educate young players in a supportive and challenging way, allowing children to learn from their mistakes without undue pressure and anxiety.
The Future Game document accompanies a raft of new youth-specific coaching courses – The FA Youth Award – designed to meet the specific needs of young players developing in the modern game.
Last month, The FA Board approved the final business plan for St. George’s Park, the National Football Centre at Burton-upon-Trent, which will be the new home for FA Learning and a hub for all coach education in England from 2012 onwards. Later this month, The FA Board will be considering a comprehensive review of international player development, undertaken by Sir Trevor Brooking and General Secretary Alex Horne.
There will be more from The FACA Conference 2010 on TheFA.com later.
