With a focus on skill-development and realistic game-related practices, the UEFA B course is aimed at coaches who intend to work with intentional players and is designed to develop their skills to meet the challenges that exist within the modern game.

It is a sizable step up from the demands of the Level 2 qualification, which sits one tier below on the coaching pathway. Building on the candidates’ knowledge of technique, skills and 4v4 games; the UEFA B moves on to functional practices, phases of play (attack against defence), and small-sided games (8v8).

Speaking ahead of the course, UEFA B Course Director, Andy Poole, outlined exactly what the candidates could expect from their first week on the course.

“Over the next five days we [will be] looking to start [the candidates’] journey and link the work from Level 2 and the work they have done within the youth awards,” he explained.

“We will look to work along the principles of play this week, develop some of the session formats at this level and get them to appreciate and understand the attacking and defending aspects of the game.”

The candidates brought with them a variety of experience, knowledge and skill from a host of backgrounds within coaching, ranging from grassroots to the professional levels of the game.

But despite coming from such different backgrounds, the candidates did share one commonality: using the UEFA B Licence course to expand their knowledge of the game and to ultimately progress their careers within football.

“We have looked at what their course expectations are, what they want to get from the course and a lot have identified developing their knowledge around the game,” he explained.

“They want to get more experience in coaching and understand how they can develop players.

“They see this as a stepping stone in relation to wanting to do more awards and going on to get more opportunities to work within football.”

Since its opening, St. George’s Park has earned plaudits from across the sport for the quality of its facilities as well as the hope that it has injected into the future of English football.

But while many will be excitedly looking ahead to the potential of England’s future playing generations, for Poole the National Football Centre is instead already beginning to deliver on the philosophy behind its creation: being an inspirational centre for coach education.

“The whole environment is fantastic. We talk about developing players but this environment is hopefully conducive to develop coaches.

“The 3G pitch will give us the flexibility, especially with the English summer we have had, to go indoors if the weather gets bad of inclement.

“Just walking round the corridors we have got the pictures on the wall of the past and present players and that in itself is inspiring.”

To find out more about becoming a Licensed Coaches' Club member, click here.