Football Coaching Vacancies

Becoming a football coach is one of the most demanding career paths in sport. There are several avenues open at various levels that enable you to apply for football coaching vacancies. In order to become a top level coach in the highest level professional leagues, a lot of skill, experience and luck need to come into play to succeed in this industry.

Gain Experience

The more experience a coach has the better he or she is able to deal with any incident, small or large, that may come up in the day-to-day operations of their club. Experience usually begins by taking on low level coaching positions, and then working up the ladder towards the highest level of coaching. Coaching experience is held in high regard when applying for football coaching vacancies.

There are many opportunities available to volunteer at local football clubs to gain experience of football coaching. People of all ages are playing football, volunteering with different teams will ensure your experience is more widespread and will give you the edge when applying for coaching vacancies.

Football Coaching courses

To begin your coaching career you must first enrol on to a coaching course. Through coaching, individuals gain the opportunity to progress through the various FA Coaching qualifications. FA qualifications are designed to enhance their skills and knowledge to apply for football coaching vacancies. The courses not only improve the ability of the individual but also the performance and enjoyment of the team.

The Football Association runs courses for aspiring coaches at all levels. Level 1 and 2 are offered by county FAs.

Level 1 and 2 are open to all. Level 1 is for people who have an interest in coaching with the motivation to improve skills and understanding. Level 2 is for coaches who have few seasons' experience who wish to start training at Level 2, for this course you will need to have observed qualified and experienced coaches working with adults and children.

For most coaches completion of the level 2 course provides all the skills required. For those looking to coach at the highest level, the level 3 qualifications are the next step forward. Level 3 assessments consists of written exam, oral interview and a practical coaching session.

For coaches wanting to excel to elite level the UEFA A license is the highest practical coaching award available. It follows the UEFA B license and can lead onto the FA Academy Managers or the UEFA Pro license award. The content meets UEFA guidelines and the course runs for a minimum of 120 hours. It is suitable for coaches working with a team playing 11-a-side.

Football coaching- tips and advice

? A successful coach should always be open to new ideas and want to continually improve their individual skills and knowledge of the game. FA courses offer the perfect solution to all coaches who aim to improve their skills, knowledge, experience and enjoyment of the game

? Cultivate an image of success. In order to get noticed at the lowest levels, it is important to become known for achieving success. This is not always measured in wins, but also in how a coach develops players, the style of football his team plays, and his ability to get the best out of their players.

? Apply for every position that might suit your talents. Even if it means dropping a level in professional terms, the ability to gain more exposure can often be more important than coaching at a higher level. As a lot of luck is involved in gaining professional coaching vacancies, for any ambitious coach, the more exposure the better opportunities for vacancies in the future.

? It's difficult to become a coach when you are not actively coaching, so accepting any position with a view to move up the ladder is important, even if that first position is coaching an Under 8's team for free. The more a coach's reputation grows the more chance he has when applying for coaching vacancies.

? It is not necessary to have played as a professional to become a professional coach, but some playing experience is crucial.

? Be prepared for setbacks - sometimes positions don't work out, or you don't get the vacancy you really wanted.

? Always continue your coach education - there are always new developments in coaching methods.

? Remember that coaching is about the players, not the coach.

? Don't be tempted to cheat in order to gain a football vacancy.

? Take care of your health - sports coaching can be incredibly stressful.

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The FA website has more information on courses commencing in your area. http://www.thefa.com/GetIntoFootball/parentsandvolunteers/CoachingVolunteering/Get%20Into%20Coaching/CoachingPathway

Find your local FA to find volunteering opportunities in your area. [http://www.footballcoachingcourses.com/LocalFAContactAddresses.html]