The FA Youth Awards and FA Advanced Youth Award
The introduction of the Elite Player Performance Plan to professional youth development has made The FA Youth Awards a mandatory requirement for youth coaches in the professional game.
The FA Youth Awards aim to provide coaches with the specialist knowledge and understanding to work effectively with young players.
However it is recognised that many coaches employed in the professional game possess a wealth of experience and understanding in this area.
As such, coaches with relevant experience and qualifications have the opportunity to achieve The FA Youth Award and The FA Advanced Youth Award through Acquired Prior Learning (APL).
The programme outlined below offers a one-off opportunity for APL through a flexible fast-track system that can be conducted in the club setting.
Please note all applications for APL should be received by 17 December 2012.
Who is eligible?
Two groups of coaches are eligible.
GROUP A: Eligible to receive The FA Youth Award and The FA Advanced Youth Award combined
UEFA A Licence and FA Youth Coaches Course holders who can provide evidence of ten years’ experience as an Academy Manager, Centre of Excellence Manager, Assistant Academy Manager or National Youth Team Coach since 1 January 1990.
Coaches who have worked in the same roles in the European system and who have spent a minimum of the last two years working in the English system may also apply.
GROUP B: Eligible to begin The FA Youth Award at Module 3
Coaches who hold a minimum of both the UEFA B Licence and The FA Youth Coaches Course and who have worked in the English Professional Club Youth Development system as:
- A Coach in the Foundation phase (9-11)
- A Coach in the Youth Development phase (12-16)
- A Coach in the Professional Development phase (17-21)
APL Proposal for Group A
Coaches in Group A have one transition opportunity in 2012/13 and one in 2013/14 to acquire The FA Youth and The FA Advanced Youth Awards through APL. Following approval of coaching experience evidence coaches can follow two paths.
To achieve The FA Youth Award coaches can:
1. Attend a two day residential FA Youth Award Conversion Conference at St George’s Park. This will include an overview of the concepts of The FA Youth Award.
The course includes all candidate resources and costs approximately £250. On completion, the coach is issued The FA Youth Award certificate equivalent to the full assessed FA Youth Award.
OR
2. A conversion meeting with an FA Youth Coach Educator can be arranged. On conclusion of this interactive discussion which looks at the concepts of The FA Youth Award, APL is granted. Conversion meetings take place in the club environment and last approximately two/three hours.
A conversion fee will be payable which includes all the FA Youth Award learning materials.
To achieve The FA Advanced Youth Award coaches in Group A can:
1. Attend the three-day St. George’s Park Advanced Youth Award Conference in 2013/14.
The course cost is approximately £400. On completion an FA Advanced Youth Award certificate is awarded and is equivalent to the full assessed FA Advanced Youth Award.
OR
2. A two-day conversion meeting with an FA Youth Coach Educator can be arranged. The FA Youth Coach Educator will facilitate the meetings bespoke to the needs or request of the coach. The discussion will look at the concepts of the course and can take place in 2013 or 2014.
There is no charge for the meeting however course resources must be purchased at a cost of approximately £100. If successful an FA Youth Award Advanced certificate equivalent to the full assessed FA Advanced Youth Award is awarded.
APL Proposal for Group B
To begin The FA Youth Award at Module 3 coaches in Group B must:
1. Provide evidence of their UEFA B Licence or UEFA A License and FA Youth Coaches Course. (To be verified by FA Learning).
2. Complete The FA Youth Award Module 3 course including the assessment. On successful completion the coach progresses onto the relevant FA Advanced Youth Award.
If unsuccessful, the coach has one opportunity to be re-assessed during the two year registration period applicable to Module 3.
If unsuccessful at reassessment the coach is required to undertake the full course programme including Modules 1, 2 and 3 prior to further assessment.
Notes :
This policy applies until the start of 2014/15 after which The FA Youth Coaches Courses is more than four years out of date and no longer valid. No further APL will be offered.
How do you apply for APL?
Group A
Coaches who meet the criteria for the APL arrangement in Group A must:
• Send a letter to Jamie Houchen, Head of FA Learning, St Georges Park, PO Box 8012, Burton Upon Trent, DE14 9JA or email Jamie.Houchen@TheFA.com.
Please outline how you meet the criteria, requesting APL based on the submission of evidence.
Relevant experience can be demonstrated through a comprehensive football CV.
• All applications will be reviewed and coaches will be informed by January 2013 of the outcome.
• Successful applicants will need to apply for The FA Youth Award Conversion Course (date TBC) or apply to undertake a conversion meeting in their clubs with their FA Youth Coach Educator.
Group B
Coaches who meet the criteria for APL in Group B must:
• Join a National, Regional or Club Cluster Module 3 course with supporting evidence of holding the UEFA B and the FA Youth Coaches Course.
• Complete the FA Youth Award Module 3 and The FA Youth Award assessment.
The FA will check records in relation to the Youth Coaches Course and FAL will approve all APL applications.
• All Group A and B coaches should ensure that the application process for APL is completed by 17 December 2012 as applications for APL will not be accepted after this date.
To read the full details of the APL plan for The FA Youth Award and The FA Advanced Youth Award visit www.thefa.com/falearning
