Six years ago the first FA Youth Award Module 1 was delivered. This changed the way we coach. We started to learn more about the players, about creating the right environment, the different ways in which children learn and how we communicate with them.

Gone are the days of line drills. Developing the practice into a game related scenario is now deemed the right way to teach football. Giving the players the chance to make their own decisions, and practice through repetition in an environment that allows the player to explore creativity.

In seeing the importance of sending this consistent message across the nation, in 2011 The FA created The FA Licensed Coaches Club ‐ now 32,000 strong, and with 500 of these in Cambridgeshire, every member has signed up to improve themselves by attending county and national Continuous Professional Development (CPD) events. These events aim to improve coaching nationwide and give members the opportunity to discuss best practice with like minded coaches. 

This is a change in culture, and whilst it was a little slow to get off the ground in rural areas, it's has become a fast growing phenomenon. Coaches now strive to achieve, want to learn more and are helping to create better players as a result. The want and need for more and more information, different ideas for practices and communication methods has meant that The FA have dramatically increased the learning opportunities available in a bid to service everyone's needs.

As The FA are well aware of the amount of time volunteers put into grassroots football, you can even get your CPD hours without leaving the comfort of your own home! With a different topic every time, and a wide variety of available CPD such as practical events, online learning and now Captured; it makes it difficult for proactive coaches to resist from learning more. Coaches can choose which topics are relevant from the extensive menu, and become specialist coaches in their area. There's no need to attend an event just to get the hours anymore as there is always a readily available topic that is relevant. It has been carefully thought out and planned to tailor to your needs.

In Cambridgeshire, we offer a minimum of five events per season and these cover all Levels. So if you're a Level 1 coach or a Level 3 coach, there is always something for you. From 'Matchday Management' to 'Set Plays', the topics are of interest and will help you back at your club with your teams. We also offer a Lead Coaches Group. This isn't for elite coaches, this is for proactive forward thinking coaches that get together three times across the season to develop their knowledge and share experiences, and then disseminate this information back to the coaches on the ground. Some of these meetings will also offer you accredited CPD hours. Get in touch if you would like to be involved. The next Lead Coaches Group will be in February and the topic for the evening is 'How to include your Goalkeeper'.

Captured ‐ the Digital Coaching Tool

Captured, a cross‐platform web and mobile application, works by enabling users to build dedicated online journals which can be populated easily with coaching information and multimedia materials. These journals can then be shared amongst players and teams, as well as acting as a diary for coaches to record and track their own personal learning journeys. Captured have teamed up with The FA Licensed Coaches Club with an app that allows you to literally 'capture' your coaching diary. It allows you to build content, share ideas and download information from items such as The Future Game. This is a tool for coaches to house all their information and practices in one place, and gives the next generation a platform to work from.

The man behind the project, Sir Clive Woodward, is delighted to see it now being offered to the football coaching community and is particularly keen to point to the software’s use in aiding coaches to be more effective with their time before, during and after their sessions.

“Coaching is still face to face. You can never beat that. But the digital world is allowing you to be more effective,” he said.

If you’re a fan of, for instance, the FA Coaching App, you need not bin the work you are building there. “Anyone using the FA app can clearly export a PDF and integrate into Captured,” Jamie Houchen, the FA’s head of learning, said.

How does it work?

Using Captured, you create a 'book' which is effectively a coaching diary. Once this is complete, submit this to FA Learning and they will accredit you with two hours CPD.

Want to find out more?

https://www.capturedhq.com/site/

With all of the information that is so readily available, let's help each other to develop creative players and create the right environment for players to enjoy football. We have access to FA Regional Coach Development Managers Keith Webb (12‐16) and Jamie Godbold (5‐11). If there is a topic that you need help with, or practical sessions that would like to see delivered; again, please get in touch. Your views are important to us as is your personal development.

Having coached a wide range of ages and abilities, I am well aware of the challenges coaches face at grassroots clubs. Having said that, I am also aware of the enjoyment to be gained from coaching. Let's face it, that's why we do it so let's be good at it! A child's coach/manager will be the person that is remembered for the rest of their life. Let's ensure that the memories are positive and you are the role model they aspire to be like.

The key point that I have learnt along my journey is this: If the players aren't doing what you have asked, it's not because they can't do it, it's because they don't understand what to do.
Get to know your players…

Katie Critchley
Cambridgeshire FA Football Development Team - Coach Education
FA Coach Mentor
UEFA B Licensed Coach
Coach ‐ U16 Chatteris Town Youth Fen Tigers/Mash Up Centre

"Every person we meet has something in common with us, and every person we meet has something new to offer us."