With the summer holidays fast approaching there are a number of holiday football schemes available throughout the county to get involved in.
Schemes such as soccer camps and schools are available for boys and girls, cover a whole range of ages and abilities and are a great way to make friends and develop skills over the school holidays.
The FA Charter Standard Holiday Course Accreditation Scheme rewards and recognises those programmes which not only adhere to child protection and safety guidelines but also deliver high quality coaching through FA qualified coaches in a fun learning environment suitable to a player's developmental needs.
Aside from FA accredited holiday courses there are also a number of other schemes across Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas operated by a range of agencies from local authorities to professional coaching companies.
To help you to decide which course may be right for you we have written the following guidelines outlining what to look out for when choosing a scheme:
Qualifications:
The FA/1st4 Sport Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football is the basic qualification for football coaches and provides them with a general understanding of coaching:
• Irrespective of their background or the organisation they are working for you should make sure that the coach in charge of your child has a minimum of the FA/1st4 Sport Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football.
• A copy of every coach’s qualifications should be available on site.
First Aid:
In completing the FA/1st4 Sport Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football or above a coach will have gained an Emergency Aid Certificate valid for 3 years:
• Ensure your child’s coach/es have up to date first aid qualifications or that there is a qualified first aider available on site at all times.
Child Protection:
• All coaches should have had an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check within a minimum of the last 3 years as they are working directly with children.
• In completing the FA/1st4 Sport Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football or above a coach should also have attended a 3hr FA Child Protection Workshop for which they should have a certificate of attendance.
Coach/Player Ratio & Coaching:
The Coach/Player ratio is important as it not only indicates the amount of coaching attention each player is likely to receive but also the level of supervision the group will have:
• There should be a maximum of 16 players to 1 coach (this ratio may need to be lower for U8s).
• There should be a minimum of two coaches/supervisory staff in attendance at all times.
• Coaching should be appropriate, realistic and fun
• Coaches should not play or demonstrate against a child
Facilities, Equipment & Procedures:
• Equipment should be suitable for the age and stage of development of youngsters, for example U8s should not be using size 5 footballs.
• Children should be grouped appropriately in terms of age, size and ability.
• First Aid equipment should be present on site at all times.
• In case of emergencies coaches/supervisors should have access to a telephone or mobile phone at all times.
• There should be procedures in place for use of toilets and changing facilities.
• The coaches/course supervisors should check playing areas, facilities and equipment are safe before the start of play and after breaks.