Keeping you updated on the status of Coaching, Safeguarding and Referee courses in Hertfordshire following the COVID-19 pandemic

UPDATED 11/01/2022 11:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the provision of learning across football, with in-person events being prohibited for long periods. During this time FA Education have worked to launch an updated suite of education courses. This modernised offer, which make greater use of digital means in addition to the traditional pitchside sessions, has opened up more opportunities for coaches to undertake training at a time to suit them.

While most courses (or their updated equivalents) are now available again, the unpredictable nature of the pandemic and its ongoing impact means there may yet be further disruption to normal service. We will continue to provide details here and add updates as soon as they are available.

Introductory Coaching Courses

Those who are looking to take the first steps on their coaching journey should complete the free online FA Playmaker award in the first instance. Then if you want to take it further, once you have completed the Playmaker you can move on to the new Introduction to Coaching Football course which replaces the Level 1.

Advanced Coaching Courses

The FA have announced details of the new UEFA C Licence. This replaces The FA Level 2 in Coaching Football, which has now been discontinued. Places on the UEFA C Licence will be extremely limited in the 2021/22 season as we focus on supporting those whose learning has been impacted by COVID-19.

If you’d like to be contacted if any places become available in 2021/22 or want to be the first to know when our 2022/23 UEFA C Licence courses will be released, please complete the form on the UEFA C page on The Boot Room.

In terms of the UEFA B the focus has similarly been on supporting those already on the course to completion. Places will be made available to new learners in the 2022/23 season and those wishing to register their interest should do so via the form on the UEFA B page on The Boot Room.

Safeguarding Courses

If your previous FA Safeguarding qualification has expired (or is more than two-and-a-half years old) you can continue to renew this online via the free FA Safeguarding Children Re-Certification for a limited time.

If you have not completed an FA Safeguarding Workshop before, you will need to complete the Safeguarding Children Course online.

If you are a Club Welfare Officer that needs to complete the relevant training for this position, you can now complete the Welfare Officers Course (you will need to be logged in order to select one of the sessions listed further down the page).

First Aid Courses

In May 2021 The FA launched a new online Introduction to First Aid in Football course. This should now be completed by anyone who needs to renew their FA First Aid qualification. Please be aware that if you If you are attending the FA Introduction to Coaching Football Course, this qualification will be included as part of that award and you do not need to complete it as a stand alone course.

For those wanting to build their knowledge on specific topics relevant to football, we would also advise you to take advantage of the free online learning available from The FA around Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Referee Courses

Those interested in becoming a referee can complete the new online Guide to the Laws of the Game modules, which serves as the first step on the path to becoming a match official. After this has been completed on their own account, they should complete the relevant Safeguarding qualification, either the Safeguarding Children Course (if you are over 16) or Safeguarding For All (for 14 and 15 year olds).

Once these have been completed they can then look to book onto the updated FA Referee Course as the next stage on the journey.

Please be aware that any booking for the face to face part of the Referee Course made on another person's FAN (by a parent for a child for example) or without the necessary qualifications being completed will have to be cancelled. You may then miss out on a place and also be charged a fee.

Referee Feedback Workshops

If you have already undertaken the previous version of the Referee Course and need to attend a Feedback Workshop to complete your qualification, we are working to schedule these according to demand (once COVID restrictions allow). If you have completed your 5 games and would like to register your interest to attend one of these, please complete the online form and we will get in touch with details of upcoming dates .

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