Last Thursday NSFA started the first week of the Youth Coach Development Program (YCDP), offering 13 to 18-year-olds from across the association the opportunity to gain their coaching qualifications in a more comfortable environment amongst like-aged and minded individuals.
“The YCDP encourages young footballers from across the association to take their first steps into coaching surrounded by friends, teammates and even weekend opponents,” explained NSFA Community Football Manager Ed Ferguson.
“With all spaces filling in the first two days of release it is clearly evident that young people from across NSFA are interested in getting involved in coaching. It provides young people an opportunity to give back to their community club, but also develops key life skills such as organisation, time management, communication and reflection.”
A total of 32 young aspiring coaches are taking part in the program, run on Thursday nights at Cammeray Oval under the tutelage of Ferguson and North Sydney United Head Coach Joe Liddle. Week one saw all participants receive their ALDI MiniRoos Coaching Certificate, designed for coaching players from 6 to 8 years old.
The participants taking part in the program come from a range of southern NSFA clubs; North Sydney United, Northbridge, North Sydney Boys High School and Lane Cove.
Over the next five weeks, the young future coaches will gain their Skill Training Certificate, preparing them to coach players from 9 to 13 years old.
Liddle came up with the idea when assisting Ferguson in delivering a Skill Training Certificate earlier in the season.
The pair have plans to expand the program if all goes to plan to allow more coaches and clubs to become involved from across the association.
“Alongside our Club Coach Coordinator program that is launching in 2018, the coaches from the YCDP will have access to a club mentor to help them whilst they are coaching a team or within a program at their club,” said Ferguson.
“The response has been great and we can’t wait to see the growth of coaches across NSFA.”