East Midlands Coaches set to boost skills through EXPLORE programme

Local coaches are set to boost their skills though NTU and UON Women’s Football High Performance Centre programme, ‘EXPLORE’.

Uni of Notts Women’s Head Coach Becky Langley

Local coaches are set to boost their skills though Women’s Football High Performance Centre programme, ‘EXPLORE’.

The Football Association (FA) approved eight Women’s High Performance Football Centres at universities across the country back in May 2018.

NTU and UON form one of those centres, which are designed to increase the number of qualified coaches and the quality of coaching central to the growth of the women’s game.

Coach Development Officer, Jenny Sugarman, recently introduced a 16 month programme called EXPLORE – an initiative designed to boost the skills, qualities, knowledge, and delivery of coaches working in the East Midlands.

The programme will look at values, philosophy, reflection, planning and observation, and will include workshops, seminars and guest speakers.

It will also provide in-depth mentoring and in-situ support, with the potential to access bursaries and explore other avenues to continued improvement and growth of the female game.

The programme is now underway with ten coaches enrolled. They’ll be developing their skills with the Nottingham Women’s Football High Performance Centre over the next 16 months, looking to graduate in September 2020.

Coach Development Officer Jenny said: “I am delighted that we have such a diverse group of coaches involved in the programme.

“We have coaches from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire working with under nines’ right through to seniors.

“EXPLORE has been created and designed to develop the existing skills and traits of coaches, rather than providing them with new content. I’m excited to see how they take ownership of their own development whilst challenging and supporting their peers.”

I applied for a place on the EXPLORE programme as I thought it would be a great opportunity to access a great resource to assist me in my development as a female coach in the female game. Also, to challenge myself to reach my potential. By taking part in the EXPLORE programme, I hope to gain more knowledge, skills and confidence as a coach, to help me progress on my coaching journey. This, I hope, will then have a positive effect on my team.

Rachel Turner – Lowdham Colts U12’s

The reason I signed up for the EXPLORE programme is because I want to continue my learning, and in doing so, give myself the best possible chance to reach my aim of becoming a full time Football Coach. The Women’s High Performance Football Centre workshops have been an incredible experience so far and I have learnt so much from them. This course seemed a natural progression to undertake more education. I want to keep pushing myself and delve deeper into what underpins my coaching philosophy and why. I hope this knowledge will help improve my player’s learning and enjoyment.

Becky Langley – Uni of Notts Women’s Head Coach

EXPLORE programme participants:

Nicolas Andrews – Leicester City
Adam brown – Mansfield Town
Daniel Corlett – Nottingham Trent University
Beth Heath – Notts County & Nottingham Trent University
Becky Langley – university of Nottingham
Isabel Martin – Loughborough Foxes
Elizabeth Pacey – Pride Park
Callam Pye – Long Eaton united
Rachel Turner – Lowdham Colts
Mark Wayman – University of Nottingham & Loughborough Foxes