Our Commitment to Coach Education
Scotland Boys Club – Academy of Football have a full commitment to Coach Education. We have an array of coaches at differing experience levels ranging from Level One to Level Five. Currently, all our Coaching staff are working through a development programme to ensure they ALL attain their Early Touches Certificate, (Level 1), Coaching Young Footballers Certificate, (Level 2), and their Coaching in the Game Certificate (Level 3), by the end of this season.
Current Staff and Qualifications
| Coach Squad | Qualifications | Current Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Murray Miller 2003 Red | Children's Level 1 and 2 |  |
| Wes McQuarrie Academy Goalkeeping Coach 2006 Orange | Children's Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 Youth's Level 1, 2, and 3 Goalkeeping Level 1,2 and 3 Club Coach Child Protection First Aid PVG Physical Preparation Children Coerver Youth Diploma |  |
| Ian Mathieson 2004 Orange | Children's Level 1, 2 and 3 First Aid |  |
| Children's Level 1, 2, and 3 Youth's Level 1, 2, and 3 |  |
|
| Steven McKnight 2004 Navy | Children's Level 1 and 2 Youth Level 1 |  |
| Dean Foy 2005 Purple | Children's Level 1, 2, and 3 Youth's Level 1, 2, and 3 Goalkeeping Level 1 First Aid Physical Preparation Children |  |
| Ross Forsyth |  |
|
| John Paul Brown 2006 Yellow | Children's Level 1 |  |
| Susan Mc Donald | Children's Level 1 |  |
As a coach, it’s essential that you provide your players with the correct tools for their age and stage of development.
The first stage in the development of young players is Desire to Play. For boys aged 6-9 and girls aged 6-8 this means providing fun enjoyable activity, well organised practices and games and stimulating activities
- Provide fun and enjoyable activity
- Provide well organised and planned practices and games
- Provide stimulating activities that promote fundamental skills and development
- Communicate appropriately with children
At this stage of development, children make the transition from the 4v4 game format to 7v7.
- Provide opportunities in practice for technique development
- Provide well organised and enjoyable practices and games
- Motivate and stimulate confidence in children to develop skills and game sense
- Challenge by setting basic goals, valuing effort and persistence and reinforcing improvement by providing objective and constructive feedback
- Help the player develop both self-esteem and the ability to realistically evaluate their performance
Developing the player
- Players at this stage of development make the transition from the 7v7 game to eleven-a-side.
Preparing to Compete
- At this stage the 11-a-side format is used and players are preparing to move on to the final stage of development.
The Scottish FA provides coach education courses at national and regional levels. No matter what level of the game you are involved at, we can help to improve your knowledge and share best practice.
The six Scottish FA regions deliver children and youth courses from level one to three, and levels four and five are coordinated from Hampden. There are five levels on the Children’s Pathway. The certificate courses, award and licence are aimed at coaches working with children under 12 years of age.
CHILDREN’S LEVEL 1
Early Touches Certificate
This six-hour course is open to anyone aged 16 and over, experienced or otherwise, who work with children of primary school age. In addition to delivering new content, the course will assist coaches to develop their coaching technique, focus on skill development and will explore the best age-specific activities for developing young players.
CHILDREN’S LEVEL 2
Coaching Young Footballers
This 12-hour course is designed to assist coaches with the planning, preparation, organisation and evaluation of their coaching sessions and focuses on coaching style and the use of differentiation, i.e. provision of practices to suit the wide range of abilities within the primary school age group. Applicants must have completed the Early Touches certificate course.
CHILDREN’S LEVEL 3
Coaching In The Game
The 12-hour Coaching in the Game Certificate Course looks at the knowledge and understanding required to help young players appreciate concepts such as width, depth and support within the small-sided game. The course is largely practical in nature and prospective coaches are required to demonstrate the ability to coach basic strategies to young players.
CHILDREN’S LEVEL 4
Basic Children’s Award
This 30-hour non-residential course is designed for coaches working with young players (five to 12 years) and provides a recognised qualification for adults working in children’s football. Comprising of two practical components, Coaching Young Footballers and Development of Technique, this award is a prerequisite for candidates whi wish to enrol on the Level 5 Advanced Children’s Licence.
CHILDREN’S LEVEL 5
Advance Children’s Licence
This 14-day course is designed for coaches working with young players (six to 12 years) and provides a recognised qualification for adults working in children’s football. The content of the course involves practical as well as theoretical components focusing on all aspects of children’s development. The course covers topics such as developing technique and the creative player, physical preparation for young players and much more.
There are five levels in the Youth Pathway. The certificate courses, award and licence are aimed at coaches working with players aged 12-18 years.
YOUTH LEVEL 1
Development Activities Certificate
This six-hour course (1 day) is open to anyone working with players aged 12 to 18 years. The course comprises a practical session, together with two short video presentations, Youth Team Management and Physical Preparation.
YOUTH LEVEL 2
Coaching Youth Footballers
This 12-hour course is designed to assist coaches with the planning, preparation, organisation and evaluation of their coaching sessions. Coaches should note that the course is mainly practical and will involve the coaching and demonstration of themes. The course will focus on coaching style and the use of differentiation, i.e. provision of practices to suit the wide range of abilities with the primary school age group. This approach is applied to different themes such as passing, dribbling, shooting etc.
YOUTH LEVEL 3
Coaching in the Game
The 12-hour Coaching in the Game Certificate looks at the knowledge and understanding required to help young players appreciate concepts such as width, depth and support within the small-sided game.
YOUTH LEVEL 4
Basic Youth Award
This 30-hour course is designed for coaches working with youth players (12-18 years) and provides a recognised qualification for adults working in youth football. The course comprises three practical components; conducting a training session, shaping a team, and individual programme. This course is a pre-requisite for candidates wishing to enrol on the Level 5 Advanced Youth Licence.
YOUTH LEVEL 5
Advanced Youth Licence
This 19-day course is designed for coaches working with youth players at the highest level. The practical components of the course consists of coaching practice in a variety of game situations including patterns of play, coaching in the game and developing a theme. The theoretical input concentrates on the physical, psychological, social and personal development of youth players.
LEVEL 1
GOALKEEPING CERTIFICATE
This six-hour course is designed to assist coaches aged 16 or over who work with goalkeepers from children to adults.
LEVEL 2
GOALKEEPING INTERMEDIATE CERTIFICATE
This 12-hour non-residential course is designed to assist coaches, aged 18 or over, who develop goalkeepers. The course is largely practical and deals with topics such as shape, mobility, shot stopping and basic handling
LEVEL 3
GOALKEEPING BASIC LICENCE
This 12-hour non-residential qualification assesses competence based on the Goalkeeping Intermediate Certificate. Candidates must be in possession of this licence prior to applying for the Advanced Goalkeeping Introductory Course.
| Coach Squad | Qualifications | Current Picture |
|---|---|---|
| Murray Miller 2003 Red | Children's Level 1 and 2 | |
| Wes McQuarrie Academy Goalkeeping Coach 2006 Orange | Children's Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 Youth's Level 1, 2, and 3 Goalkeeping Level 1,2 and 3 Club Coach Child Protection First Aid PVG Physical Preparation Children Coerver Youth Diploma | |
| Ian Mathieson 2004 Orange | Children's Level 1, 2 and 3 First Aid | |
| Children's Level 1, 2, and 3 Youth's Level 1, 2, and 3 | |
|
| Steven McKnight 2004 Navy | Children's Level 1 and 2 Youth Level 1 | |
| Dean Foy 2005 Purple | Children's Level 1, 2, and 3 Youth's Level 1, 2, and 3 Goalkeeping Level 1 First Aid Physical Preparation Children | |
| Ross Forsyth | |
|
| John Paul Brown 2006 Yellow | Children's Level 1 | |
| Susan Mc Donald | Children's Level 1 | |
