In a learning environment such as ours, it is vital that not only the players receive the best possible information, but also the coaching and development staff.
Over the past few weeks and in the coming months, we have and will continue to embark on a staff education programme alongside all other Centre of Excellences and Academies in the country due to a new national professional development month during January and February.
With the introduction of a winter break in the Centre of Excellence games programme, which will continue to consist of our players' regular training programme and in addition to this a comprehensive indoor European Tour Programme, the weekends will be used for staff education.
Organised through the Football League Trust and the Football Association, the countries best Coach Educators will be on hand at structured regionalised seminars designed for all full and part time staff within the clubs' youth development programme. The events held at top facilities in the region will run all day providing staff with not only a networking and information sharing experience with other clubs in our regional cluster, but also an opportunity to see modern trends in the professional and development levels of the game, as well as an insight in to innovative methods being experimented and used, learnt through experience or from studies abroad.
Split into specific categories, from 9-11 years old, 13-16 years, sports science and physiotherapy, this will provide our staff with age and field specific learning, which will in turn benefit our players. The Football League Trust and Football Association should be congratulated on the re-introduction of such a programme, which is run at large expense to them, but at no expense to the clubs and their staff. This 'break from the norm' mentality and changing of ways is what everyone needed and requested and is very much welcomed by us.
As pictured, a number of our coaching and recruitment staff recently took part in a course designed to develop our identification of talented players. Led by FA Tutor Richard Allen, it was an interactive and thought provoking evening, where all staff in attendance completed a number of written and verbal tasks to finish this qualification and continue their professional development through this 4 hour workshop.
On this day in particular, the full time members of staff returned just in time to meet Richard having travelled back from Reading FC from another Football League Regional seminar. These days are run throughout the year and together with an update within Youth Development meeting, a theory and practical session also takes place. Dick Bate, Head of Coach Development at The FA worked with Reading Under 17's during the afternoon in what was an eye opening session revolving around the modern trend of midfield players.
On Thursday, I will be attending a LMA Seminar at West Bromwich Albion designed on the latest warm up and cool down techniques, as well as a seminar with a top sports communicator on building trust, team discussions and positive body language and communication techniques.
We have also just enrolled our staff on their next FA Qualifications for the summer of 2010. Varying from Sports Science, Technical Coaching, Age or Position Specific work or Psychology, we will all be embarking on an extensive education programme.
Progress Reports
During October, we held our progress reports evening with the players, where all players and parents have a meeting with their team manager and receive both written and verbal feedback. This gives the staff, parents and players an opportunity to have a discussion away from the hectic training ground and target set for the remainder of the season in the highlighted areas on their written reports.
Once complete, all parents have an opportunity to write a feedback sheet, if they wish and a copy of the report is sent to the players' school for their information.
This is a very important night for the players, as it allows us to look back from July onwards on their performances in training and games and discuss their development from a technical, tactical, physical and psychological perspective.
Feedback is vital in any learning process and alongside our regular weekly meetings between the team and their coach, this adds to the information that needs to be accepted, considered and later transferred into action.
This hunger to learn and open minded attitude to new methods is something we ask for in our players, it is vital that if we want learners, then we ourselves have to be students of the game.
Mark Bonner
Recruitment Officer
