Do you want to Coach A-League?

FFA say,

Home-grown coaches are key to the development of young players according to Football Federation Australia (FFA).

Scholarships will be for a period of up to three years and coaches that may be considered for the program include those from Club, Institute, School, Youth and Private Academies.

Full FFA release below.

FFA BUILDS HOME-GROWN COACHING TALENT
- MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUSTRALIAN COACHES



Home-grown coaches are key to the development of young players according to Football Federation Australia (FFA).

Announcing new programs for coaches, from grassroots to elite levels, FFA CEO Ben Buckley said that the ultimate objective is to improve the quality and technical proficiency of players, as well as give coaches a development pathway.

"These exciting programs will help anyone interested in football coaching regardless of the level of their coaching," FFA CEO, Ben Buckley, said.

"Whether you're a mum or dad helping out your children's local team, or aspire to be a Hyundai A-League or national team coach, our new coach development programs have something to offer.

"Importantly, they also form a clear pathway for those people who are interested in making a career out of coaching."

Key amongst the initiatives announced by Buckley is the inaugural FFA National Coaching Conference to be held at the State Sports Centre, Homebush Bay (Sydney), on 26 & 27 May.

Timed to coincide with the worldwide FIFA Congress which gets underway in Sydney later the same week, the conference includes some of the biggest names in world football from a technical perspective.


Keynote speakers at the conference include FIFA Technical Director, Education and Development Jean-Michel Benezet, German Football Federation Chief Coaches Instructor Erich Rutemöller, former German National Team Head Coach and World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann (via video link), former Dutch Eredivisie Coach Hans Westerhof, and former Socceroos and Czech national team coach Dr Josef Venglos. The conference will be closed by the President of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohammed Bin Hammam.


“We have attracted some of the biggest names in world football to attend this event and the knowledge and experience they will share will be of great benefit to all who will attend," Buckley said.

“The conference is a forum for all coaches, from grass-roots to international level, to share ideas about how to best prepare football players for now and the future.”

Buckley said the conference will also feature sessions on sports science, sports medicine and sport psychology.

Also announced is a new Elite Coach Development Program which is a scholarship program aimed at a small select group of younger coaches who aspire to coach at the elite level - whether for an Institute, Women's National League, Hyundai A-League or national team coach position.

The Scholarships will be for a period of up to three years and coaches that may be considered for the program include those from Club, Institute, School, Youth and Private Academies.

There will be a small number of scholarships awarded under a broad range of criteria, with a primary consideration being a clear intention to pursue coaching at the highest level.

The scholarship holders will be required to hold an FFA Advanced Coaching B License and be progressing towards an A License, and they must also have a significant playing background or relevant off-field qualifications.

"The FFA is committed to ongoing growth in the area of football development as announced in last year's National Football Development Plan, and these scholarships provide another level of implementation in this area," said Buckley.

"The Elite Coach Development Program will potentially provide the springboard for a few targeted Australian coaches, perhaps even former elite players, to ultimately reach the top of the coaching profession."

The National Technical Director, Rob Baan, will lead the program, with assistance from the National Coach Education Manager, Kelly Cross, and the FFA National Teams and Football Development Units.

Applications will close on April 15 with the first scholarships to commence in July.

Meanwhile, a number of Australian representatives will form part of the next intake of coaches undertaking the B Certificate coaching course as part of Football Federation Australia’s coach education structure.

Former Socceroos including Paul Okon, Steve Corica, Ross Aloisi, Carl Veart and Michael Valkanis as well as former Matilda Gill Foster, are set to be amongst some 20 coaches taking part in Canberra during April in the AFC-endorsed course introduced last year as part of the new Coach Education Structure.


The course is part of the Advanced Pathway which is primarily aimed at the professional and semi-professional coach, and also at experienced players who wish to pursue a coaching career.
Attendees who pass the B Certificate can progress to the A Certificate and then the Pro Diploma.