Our Coaching Ethos

Our club ethos is a detailed statement that sets out how we want our club to run.

• Work to ‘create a special environment’ that will provide our players with an exceptional football experience centred around development, playing and enjoyment.
• Develop a positive, progressive and challenging place for the advancement of football, football skills and the knowledge of all aspects of the game.
• Deliver age-appropriate coaching to support long-term player development
• Football for All – to provide football to children of all ages and abilities, in a safe and friendly environment
• All aspects (training or matches) should be inclusive for all. Players should be involved equally (ensure equal playing time for all) during training and matches to progress their development.
• Promote the concept that ‘winning is not our first goal, but to understand that improving players skill and knowledge of the game, will result in winning being the end product’.

Coaching Philosophy

The clubs detailed coaching philosophy looks to provide our volunteers with a strong direction and guidance in the process of teaching young players.
Our coaching approach is based on the Football Association 4-corner model to encourage the long term player development, while utilising the appropriate recommendations for players aged between 5-11 and 12-16.

Coaching Aims

• Make the game safe, inclusive and enjoyable
• Promote good behaviour and respect in the game
• Provide age-appropriate coaching (5-11, 12-16, 17+)
• Develop the whole player using the 4-corners FA Long Term Player Development model, Social, Psychological, Physical and Technical.
  • Improve the players movement skills: agility, balance, co-ordination and speed (ABCs)
  • Develop the players technical skills
  • Increase the players decision-making capabilities
  • Tech the player life skills (co-operation, teamwork, communication and friendship)

Role of the Coach

• Mentor – Listen to players, advise and extend their thinking (open their mind)
• Motivator – Drive and inspire the player by setting of appropriate challenges
• Friend – Ensure the environment is welcoming and especially inclusive for all
• Facilitator – Allow players to enjoy playing the game
• Provider – Supply correct information to aid player development

A Good Coach

• Encourages players to attempt new things
• Supports and inspires through good practise and game time
• Understands that each child is unique, unique = special!
• Encourages the players to reach their full potential and ‘to be the best they can be’
• Motivates players through positive encouragement
• Understands that the child needs are the most important part of the activity

Our Good Coaches Also Know

• They should communicate age-appropriate language and instructions
• Youth player development is a long term process, things take time
• Must understand that different children learn in different ways
• Understands how young players learn and has knowledge of other issues that can impact a young player development
• Should consider the self-esteem and motivation of their players

Qualifications

• The minimum requirement for all coaches at our clubs to attend and obtain the following
  • FA Level 1 award in coaching football
  • FA Emergency Aid
  • FA Safeguarding Children Workshop
• All our coaches MUST have an enhanced FA DBS check
  • The FA requires everyone who works or volunteers in youth football and regularly takes children into their care, trains or supervises or is in sole charge of children to apply for a FA DBS enhanced disclosure.

Coaches Behaviour

• Our Coaches must follow the Club Code of Conduct and FA Respect Campaign
• Coaches should personally be in control on the touchline, DO NOT get carried away.
  • Marching up and down and shouting instructions MUST NOT HAPPEN
• Do not preach about mistakes. Players always try their best and will learn from their errors.
• Allow players to play and express with freedom during matches, you as coach should provide encouragement. This is ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST TOOLS.

Player Development

Our coaching approach is based on the Football Association 4-corner model to encourage the long term player development: Technical, Psychological, Physical and Social.

No matter what level we’re coaching at, it’s important to take a holistic approach to player development. This means helping our players to develop as people, not just athletes, accounting for their psychological and emotional needs as well as their levels of skill and physical adeptness. 

The Four Corner Model facilitates this process by breaking down player development and session design into four key categories:

• Technical and tactical
• Psychological
• Physical
• Social

As coaches, we should aim to consider all four components when working with our players. The FA 4 corner long-term player development model is designed to promote well-rounded coaching, whereby no single aspect of a player’s development is over-emphasized or neglected.

No corner in isolation: The elastic band analogy

The understanding that no corner operates in isolation is fundamental to the Four Corner Model. We should never fixate on a single area of a player’s development, and will often find that it’s difficult to design a session that focuses on just one of these elements by itself.