On a wet evening in Hatfield, Hertfordshire FA took it's annual Roadshows back out around the County starting with Hertfordshire University on Friday 12th December.
With various events for coaches, welfare officers, referees, club officials and administartors, the roadshows are a fantastic opportunity for Charter Standard clubs to stay right up to date with all the latest information from the County.
The coaches event was hosted by the Hertfordshire Coaches Association and tutored by Andy Day. There were over 30 members and coaches from clubs who attended the session, along with 3 young Goalkeepers (from Panshanger and Hatfield Youth).
The Coaches Association is a great opportunity for all coaches to gain knowledge of different coaching techniques and network with coaches from other clubs. Charter Standard Clubs can save £50 by enrolling 10 coaches for £100 (normal price £150).
The tutor put the young goalkeepers through their paces as they did a thorough warm up session, which included many technical points. All attendees received some additional information in the form of a handout.
The Club Based Match Officials session was tutored by Phil Sharp who is Hertfordshire FA's Referee Development Officer and Roy Williams (County Training Officer), over 15 club officals attended the workshop. There was a good blend of young players from Welwyn Pegasus and Hertford Town Youth and adults from various clubs.
The brief introduction into refereeing hopes to give club members the knowledge and confidence to referee games should they be asked to on a matchday and also encourage people to become qualified officials by taking one of Hertfordshire FA's Referee Courses.
The Charter Standard conference was attended by over 30 people from clubs all voer the county and was an opportunity to receive information on renewal of their Charter Standard status and also guidance on developing their volunteer workforce within their own clubs and was a forum for sharing their own expereiences. The conference was host by Football Development Officer (Clubs), Ken Headington, and County Welfare Officer Richard Drake.
After the break the welfare officers had a discussion group hosted by Richard and Paul Mallett, while the clubs stayed with Ken and looked at new criteria for charter standard and discussed the impact that the RESPECT programme is having on Grassroots football.
The next Roadshows are planned for the following dates:
East
Wednesday 14th January – Wodson Park
South
Tuesday 3rd February – Dame Alice Owen School and Borehamwood FC
West
Thursday 26th February – Cavendish Sports College and Longdean School
For more information about the events at Wodson Park downlad the flyer (right)