The FA's Youth Award Module 2 has been rolled out across the country.
The FA has recently piloted The FA Youth Award Module 2 at various locations around the country.
Module 2 - Developing the Practice - follows on from Module One - Developing the Environment and it aims to take coaches on a journey into understanding practice and how it affects the players.
For most coaches, some elements of the course content will be new, but for others it may consolidate existing knowledge. It depends on the individual coach’s experience and indeed experiences rather than formal qualifications.
The course is therefore aimed at coaches who wish to enhance their understanding of practice and how it works (or doesn’t) for the players. It is not necessarily a straightforward journey. There will be many twists and turns on the way.
Developing the Practice is understanding the value of repetition and how this manifests itself according to the age, ability, maturity and experience of the players it is meant to serve. ‘Practice’ does have a science, which is to be respected, but it is more common sense than anything else. ‘Practice makes permanent’ and ‘You get what you practice’ are therefore adopted as the key ‘strap lines’ that underpin the content of Module 2.
Essentially the course aims to make sense and not judgements or statements and therefore is more likely to aid understanding. Tutors will strive to bring any science and the logic together in a simple, meaningful and practical way, with plenty of time for coaches and tutors to ‘breathe and think’ over the four days of the course, enabling reflection and evaluation at every stage.
The content of the course is simple and focused. The following are the intended learning outcomes;
Learning Outcomes
- Develop an understanding of the outcomes related to different types of practices.
- Develop an understanding of how differences in age, ability, maturity and experience impact on the planning and delivery of football practices
- Develop an understanding of how to plan, deliver and evaluate effective coaching practices that meet individual player needs and learning outcomes
- Develop observation skills and an understanding of the value related to evaluation, feedback and reflection
- Signpost where you can go next on your coaching pathway
The course is essentially practical and there will be plenty of opportunities to observe practice examples from staff and other coaches. Some courses will have the benefit of having young players visiting the course to be coached as part of the staff demonstrations.
The nature of the course and its content will also prompt discussions into topics such as the value of ‘drill like’ practices, the notion of the game as a teacher and age and maturity issues.
Certification
In order to generate the certificate, coaches will be formatively assessed (assessment for learning). This is an essential fabric of the course.
Assessment for learning is a process in which students end up with feedback (in the form of an action plan) of ‘where they are’ in their coaching, where they can go next and how best to get there. It is a reflective rather than reactive process and it is not pass or fail. The last two days of the course is built around a task to plan, deliver and evaluate coaching and practices but these should be seen as opportunities to learn, reflect and develop observational and evaluative skills rather than anything else.
As it stands, the course has just finished a pilot stage in which content and delivery has been tried and tested. As with all pilots there has had to be amendments and changes to suit, but it is important to understand that The FA Youth Award is in its infancy and as with all infants they sometimes stumble and will inevitably change appearance and shape as it matures.
For further information and details of courses in your area contact your local County FA.