Final learnings from the FA Level 1

Building on the first two days of workshops, Day 3 and 4 of the course were dedicated to the Develop (skill) and Extend (game) phases of training sessions. For either phase, we got in pairs, organised a mini-session and ran the other attendees through it on the local 3G pitch.

Aside from the practical workshops, we also went through a range of topics including matchday management, linking training to matches, the 3 key phases of play (attacking, defending and transitions) and their tactical and technical aspects.

A few key take-home points for me:

• The Build, Develop, Extend structure can work well in practice, eventually!
  My first attempt at this with our team was a disaster - one of those few days when discipline goes through the window and as a coach you’re better just letting the kids have fun. The second attempt, a week later, went very well. The transition between phases being one area I want to improve further

• Without context, bad learning can happen very easily
  When our team was created 18 months ago, we were told that players benefit from rotating through all the squad positions: goal keeper, left and right defence, centre mid, etc. Thus during matches, we got our players to switch positions between each quarter. As it turns out, the tutor’s advice was clearly not to do this, as it is confusing for the boys. Instead, give players a position for 2 or 3 weeks, so they really get to learn the ins and outs of playing in that role, before moving them on to the next position. Which makes complete sense

• The Level 1 course includes very little individual feedback
  Pretty much just a bit of advice after each practical workshop. For the rest, as an attendee you need to fill in several sections of your FA learning book, but these do not get checked in details. Hence you might have got quite a bit wrong and it wouldn’t be picked up, which is a shame as it could easily lead to bad learnings

Interestingly, we had a different tutor for Day 4. Stuart was a nice contrast from Henry, in terms of tutoring style - with Stuart more attentive to the precise theory of coaching. I actually thought that both tutors were great and we benefited from working with both of them during the course.

Now, with the benefit of having completed the Level 1 course, what am I the most curious to figure out next?

• First, more specific Social and Psychological factors
  As per the FA model, each training session should have benefits for the 4 corners of coaching: Technical/Tactical, Physical, Psychological and Social. Yet when planning my sessions, so far I tend to have generic (but still valid) factors to include for the last 2 corners. More precise examples of factors would help make the sessions more rounded

• Second, how to pick which areas to focus on during training sessions
  It is pretty straightforward as a coach to create, at the start of the year, a long list of areas that your team should work on. And to add to that list after each match based on the team’s performance. But how do you pick which one to tackle first? And second? Thinking about it, this is a similar challenge to one I work on with software companies, where I help them organise their ‘product roadmap’, ie turn their long list of feature ideas into a clear, meaningful, sensible plan - so I will try and use similar techniques for our team

• Third, when I will be doing the Level 2 course
  ‘If’ is not in doubt - I got so much from the Level 1 course that I’m already decided on taking Level 2. It’s only a matter of when will be the best time to do so. Tutors recommend practicing for 3-6 months between the Level 1 and 2 courses, so I’ll start looking for a course for next summer

I hope you found these blogs interesting, if so don’t hesitate to share them. And if you happen to have a daughter or son who is getting into football, and fancy doing some coaching yourself, by all means sign up for the FA’s Level 1 course as without any doubt you will enjoy it!