The FA's first ever coach licensing scheme: The FA Licensed Coaches’ Club.
The Purpose Of The Licensed Coaches' Club
The future development of football in this country is reliant on better coaches. At all levels of the game we need coaches who possess the expertise, knowledge and attitude to positively affect the players and teams with which they work. As the game changes, so too must all our coaches.
Appropriate qualifications are integral to this aim. The FA Coaching Pathway now offers a variety of routes for coaches to follow to become experts in their own field. The FA Youth Award Modules 1-3 now complement the main strand of FA courses which include qualifications from The FA Level One course through to the UEFA Pro Licence. This is, however, only half of the story.
If we are to succeed in our vision of creating more innovative coaches who are excellent teachers of the game, learning and development will not be only be reserved for time spent on coaching courses. Instead, the desire for further knowledge, expertise and mastery must be ongoing as a continuous process of reflection, with coaches ultimately developing a mindset of learning and self-improvement.
The coaching journey is not, however, an individual one. The FA Licensed Coaches’ Club aims to inspire, educate and assist coaches along their coaching journey.
Whether it's for a part-time volunteer of an U8s team or a coach of professional players in the senior game, The Licensed Coaches' Club publishes the latest research, opinion and methods used in the game.
The launch of The FA Future Game guides, outlined The FA’s philosophy and approach to player and coach development at both the elite and grassroots levels of the game.
Being A Licensed Coach
The Licensed Coaches' Club aims to raise standards in coaching across the game by ensuring that coaches keep their training and qualifications up to date. It forms a key part of The FA’s Youth Development Review and Coaching Strategy.
In today’s ever evolving game, it is essential that coaches at all levels of the game keep up to speed with new coaching techniques and advice.
The FA Licensed Coaches’ Club requires that coaches meet the following criteria in order to join:-
- Min Level One coaching qualification
- Emergency Aid certificate
- FA Safeguarding children certificate
- FA CRB check (if coaching children)
Once licensed, coaches will need to ensure they commit to a certain level of training every year in order to retain their licence:-
- Level One - 3 hours per year
- Level Two - 5 hours per year
- Level Three / UEFA B - 5 hours per year
- UEFA A & Pro Licence - 5 hours per year
This training can be made up in a number of ways, such as by taking additional qualifications, completing an online course or attending a local CPD event. In order to encourage coaches to join and get their coaching licence, coaches will receive a number of benefits from the scheme:-
- Access to the Licensed Coaches' Club website with online resources, session plans, interviews and coaching news.
- Free England tickets (ballot entry for all home matches for every England team).
- Discounts on FA Learning courses.
- Access to accredited local training events.
- FA Photo Coaching Licence.
- Option to purchase insurance.
- Option to subscribe to The Boot Room, The FA’s coaching magazine.
- Option to subscribe to UEFA’s coaching tool, TactX.
The FA Licensed Coaches’ Club has replaced The FA Coaches' Association, which was discontinued in August 2011.
