The Scottish FA Coach Education department has added to its growing portfolio of courses with the launch of a new specialist award for coach educators.
Applications are now open for the Coach Educator and Developer Award, a three-month course that begins on Tuesday, 4 April.
The new award has been designed in consultation with UEFA. It aims to equip and upskill the coach educator and coach developer workforce in Scotland.
The application process is open to all candidates that hold at least a UEFA C Licence or Scottish FA Children's Coaching Licence and have completed the e-learning courses in Children’s Wellbeing in Scottish Football and Mental Health in Scottish Football.
This award will now become a minimum requirement for any coaches intending to work for the Scottish FA delivering Scottish FA Coach Education courses – as and when any positions are advertised in the future.
The course content will be split between online sessions and practical days of coaching practice and workshops.
Candidates will learn the key roles of a Coach Educator as well as gaining knowledge in different learning styles, adult learning principles and how to engage, support and develop grassroots coaches.
They will also become better equipped to support their own network of grassroots coaches in a practical and theoretical context.
Greig Paterson, Head of Coach Education & Development, Scottish FA: "I am always keen that we are proactive, early adopters of best practice and ahead of the curve when it comes to coaching principles.
"This type of course is a recommended directive by the UEFA Coaching Convention, which we adhere to, and I am delighted we are able to launch it this year.
"This specialist course will provide quality assurance for us to ensure we are delivering a world-class offering in Coach Education. It's a vital step forward that all our leaders on our Level 1 Grassroots Coach Education courses will have completed this course in future, helping us to better equip our workforce.
"However, this award is not just aimed at those who work for the Scottish FA. It's about enabling people to get the most of the coaching staff at their clubs, whether that be at grassroots or professional level.
“Someone may be a brilliant coach but to be a coach educator there's different elements to consider. They need to understand how people learn and how best to support people who learn in their own ways.
"A significant amount of research has gone in to designing this award and we are excited to welcome the first cohort in April.”
Applications can be made by visiting https://login.scottishfalive.co.uk . The application window is open until March 19, 2023.