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Course

Introduction to Coaching Football

This online football coaching course is perfect for anyone looking to lead a grassroots football team.

Course Overview

Introduction to Coaching Football

Course type:

Online

£100

Duration:

4 weeks

Minimum Age:

16

Price:

£100

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Apply for a partially funded place

Applications for partially funded places on Introduction to Coaching Football are open. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.  

To support football truly being a game for all, will be offering funding for 20% of all places on Introduction to Coaching Football as part of our Partially Funded Places Programme and Chase Fully Funded Places.

The Partially Funded Places Programme and Chase Fully Funded Places have been developed to support coaches who may be facing barriers to getting involved.

Please note, if you are awarded a partially funded place on Introduction to Coaching Football, you will be awarded fully funded places on our Introduction to First Aid in Football and Safeguarding Children Course. You must complete both of these courses before enrolling on Introduction to Coaching Football.

Click the links to find about more about our Partially Funded Places Programme, and Chase Fully Funded Places. To begin your application, please click the link below.*

Apply now

*If you are applying for a partially funded place / Chase fully funded place on this course, please do not purchase a place on the course until you have received the outcome of your application, as we will not be able to process refunds once a purchase has been made.

About the course

Do you have a passion for wanting to develop players, help them understand more about the game and embrace a love for football? The Introduction to Coaching Football course is a great place to start. 
 
Whether you are currently coaching a team or looking to get into coaching, this course will help you create a safe and fun football environment and deliver suitable practices and games for players. 

The course blends live weekly webinars, e-learning, community support and a range of resources to provide you with the skills to coach players of all ages. 

We will focus on the player, the game, and you as a coach. You will learn from our coach developers who will share their experiences and knowledge on weekly webinar broadcasts. You will also connect with like-minded people via our coaching community to explore and share your stories while gaining advice and support throughout the course. 

To pass Introduction to Coaching Football, you will need to work through e-learning modules each week, as well as completing a short online assessment. The e-learning can be completed in stages in your own time and will take approximately four weeks. You will be given 12-months from your start date to complete the course. Check out the structure below to find out more about what's in store. 

This course has replaced The FA Level 1 in Coaching Football. 

If you've already started the course, you can jump back in here. If you are unable to access the Course Introduction after you book your place, please contact us at education@thefa.com. 

Reasonable adjustments

To request a reasonable adjustment on this course, please follow this link.

Download a copy of our
Reasonable Adjustments Policy.

Find out how Introduction to Coaching Football works

Course prerequisites

Please note that the Safeguarding Children Course and Introduction to First Aid in Football are no longer part of Introduction to Coaching Football. 

To enrol on and complete Introduction to Coaching Football, you must hold in-date qualifications for the Safeguarding Children Course and Introduction to First Aid in Football.


If you have recently completed the Safeguarding Children Course and Introduction to First Aid in Football, please allow up to two hours for these qualifications to register on your account before trying to book a place on Introduction to Coaching Football.

Course structure

1. Weekly Webinars

Hosted by our expert Coach Developers, these weekly discussions will focus on some of the most important things you’ll need as a football coach:

  • Week One - Engaging Players (1h)
  • Week Two - Learning About Football (1h)
  • Week Three - Matchday: Parent Relationships (1h)

Recordings of all three weekly webinars can be watched back on-demand.


2. E-Learning

The modules below need to be completed to pass the course. They are specifically designed to give you the knowledge you need to pass a quick assessment at the end of the course. 


How to behave as a coach (20m)  

Explore the behaviours and skills of a good coach and test your understanding of:

  • Observation 
  • Player engagement 
  • Effective communication 
  • Environment creation

 

Disability Football Introduction (30m)
Explore what's meant by disability and the different pathways available for disabled players from mainstream to pan-disability and impairment-specific football.

 

How to build a session (20m)
Gain an introduction on how to prepare for training and explore different ways to structure sessions, including the use of small-sided games.

 

How to adapt your session (15m)
Learn how to use The FA’s Space, Task, Equipment and People (STEP) principles to adapt sessions and practices to suit the needs of your team.

 

Respect for coaches (25m) 
Develop your knowledge of how to help players feel safe, have fun and remain included. This module will cover: 

  • Creating the right environment  
  • Understanding your players  
  • Leading by example  
  • Building a positive team around you
  • Instilling an ‘anything is possible’ attitude


Assessment (10m) 

This short, online assessment is designed to recap your knowledge of what you’ve learned on the course.  

 

3. Running a team guide

Whether you're coaching young children or adults, you will be given a 'Running a team guide' as part of the course. This guide will provide practice plans, advice on how to structure and plan coaching sessions and top tips in helping your players become more skilful. The guide also includes:

  • Spotlight practices – videos of practice ideas 
  • Maximising matchday 
  • Parent-coach communication plan
  • Useful links to other FA resources

4. Podcasts

You’ll gain access to podcasts recorded by our Coach Developers, designed to complement the weekly webinars and e-learning modules: 
-Good coaching 
-Space, Task, Equipment, People (STEP) framework 


5. The FA Community

When you enrol, you’ll be given exclusive access to our online coaching community, which is a place for you to share tips, discuss ideas and learn from other coaches as you work through the course. We encourage you to stay active on the community and get involved in discussions to get the most out of your experience. 

 

You’ll also have access to a number of useful resources, case studies and practice videos to use alongside your weekly webinars, giving you the chance to apply practical skills to real-life coaching.

Course Availability

Date

Friday 01 Nov 2024

£100
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Available

Date

Monday 04 Nov 2024

£100
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Available

Date

Wednesday 06 Nov 2024

£100
Sign In to book a course

Available

Frequently asked questions