With the focus in 2007 naturally on the England Senior team as they prepare for the FIFA Women's World Cup in China, how do coaches like Laura fit into the 'Team England' set-up and what are their core responsibilites?

Laura goes on to explain below....

"The U17 programme is becoming a major part of the developmental set-up, with players being exposed to the demands of international football.

The next year wil see the U17’s compete on both a European and hopefully, world stage. All the players involved have been highlighted as potential senior international footballers and when they are brought into the international set-up, they have to learn how to become elite athletes.

The role of the staff at U17 level is to educate the players on all aspects of their football, including exercise science, diet and nutrition, and psychology.

All aspects play a major role in becoming an international footballer; understanding the strategy behind the technical and tactical programme is important but getting the players into routines including recovery strategies is vital in their development, so that their bodies can adapt to the demands that are put on them at elite level. 

With the Seniors qualifying for the World Cup it gives the younger players role models and targets that they can aspire to. The next step for the U17 players is to try and prepare themselves for U19 level.

The fact that there are competitive tournaments in 2007 means that the players will gain experience that the majority of our senior players have not had at U17 age. If we can qualify for the U17 World Cup in 2008 it will give the younger players a 'taste', and that will be invaluable in helping them try and make the step up to the very top. 

The opportunity I've had to work with the U17s has been fantastic for me as a coach. I get to work with some of the best coaches in the country and their experiences have helped me develop. The players are the focus and their development is most important. That’s something that has been at the forefront of all the work we've done in the last year.

Being a Manager in the FA Women's Premier League also gives me a chance to help the players involved at our club, and educate them on the levels of commitment and dedication they need to achieve, if they wish to represent their country.

Although there is a demand for managers to get results, in my opinion the development of young players can only help with the development of a club. Over the next twelve months, I will be helping players at both club and international level get into routines that can help them to excel as footballers, and hopefully achieve at the peak of their abilities."