FA Soccer Training

According to BBC Sport, the Football Association (FA) provides training information and courses to help improve the qualifications of soccer coaches. The FA's coaching courses are offered online and at local and national levels. All aspects of the game are covered, including shooting, passing, heading, defense and ball possession.

  1. History

    • The Football Association is the world's oldest organized soccer organization, formed in October 1863 to standardize the rules of soccer in London. The FA says 12 schools and soccer clubs from London assembled to form the Football Association because each area of England played soccer by its own rules, making games between clubs and schools difficult to organize and control. From the formation of the Football Association, soccer progressed to international games, professional clubs, and cup and league competitions.

    Adult Training

    • According to Football Coaching Courses, the FA introduced new training qualifications after a decline in adult soccer teams in the U.K. because of the lack of access to educational opportunities for coaches. In November 2003, the FA introduced an adult coaching qualification to increase the number and quality of coaches.

    Local Courses

    • BBC Sport says training is available to bring coaches up to FA standards. The Level 1 and 2 FA coaching qualifications are offered and run by FA affiliates at county level. Both the Level 1 and 2 qualifications are open-access courses available to members of the public over age 16 with little soccer experience. These courses are designed to improve the training opportunities available to children and amateur players. A coach's qualifications are judged by his ability to administer training sessions to adults and children.

    Level 3

    • The Level 3 soccer training provided by the FA is for coaches who want to work at a more competitive level of play. The Level 3 training course provides information on counterattacking, play in the attacking third, regaining possession and goalkeeping.

    Online

    • The FA provides 11 online soccer training courses and qualifications for coaches, parents, fans and players at all levels, according to the BBC. The FA's online qualifications include courses in fitness, child protection and coaching. Online qualifications are used by some coaches as preparation for taking Level 1 and 2 training.