Issue 8 - February 09 touchline News from League Football Education News p2 PFA Coaching p4 Progression 2009 p6 & 7 Apprentice Focus p8 & 9 LFE Blogs p11 Progression 2009 Bigger and better than ever LFE is a partnership LFE Technical between The Football Partner League and The Professional Footballers’ Association. LFE in Europe LFE Virtual Puma Learning LFE is offering a unique One youth team to and exciting opportunity spend two weeks Environment for 3 Clubs this summer. with GIF Sundsvall, (VLE) Youth Having successfully participating in the applied for funding from daily life of the club, the Leonardo Da Vinci training and playing Gathering Pace Mobility Programme LFE competitive games. The continued roll Alliance can now finance three out of the LFE VLE is youth teams to visit These football activities gathering pace with Sweden on a Pre-Season will be complimented over 50% of clubs, newsThe 2009 Football Tour. The opportunities with a series of social Update education providers Tracking and available are: and cultural activities to and apprentices League Awards enhance the experience. accessing the system Two youth teams For further information The annual Football League Awards will once again to complete apprentice Monitoring to participate in on the programme, progress reviews. be taking place on Sunday 29th March 2009 at the former League As we cross the a tournament in application requirements Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane. The next phase of the halfway point champions Queens Ostersund with top and club selection criteria Park Rangers closing implementation plan Winner Nominations for the Apprentice of the Year categories in the season level teams from across please visit : will see a further 20 – in the Diamonds face have now been shortlisted for consideration by a panel the battle is well Sweden and the rest www.lfe.org.uk/leonardo. 30 clubs adopting the a tough battle for the of Europe for a total of Each year LFE carry out a tracking and of judges and the winners will be announced at the underway for system with the goal gala dinner in London. top spot. two working weeks. monitoring programme and this year the the regional of all clubs using the questionnaires that were completed online were system by the end of The Apprentice of the Year Awards celebrate the Conference Last years League the academic a year automatically entered into a free prize draw to achievements of Apprentices and provide an opportunity League titles in and Cup double National Apprenticeship Week still the main target. win a Marc Ecko watch. to showcase young talent. The Awards recognise the nominee’s commitment, hard work and dedication to the Puma Youth winners Hull City On February 23rd-27th England’s second annual Further enhancements their Apprenticeship both on and off the field. Alliance. currently sit in third Congratulations go to Matthew Paterson National Apprenticeship Week will be held. position but with to the system will from Southampton as the Prize Draw winner! Co-ordinated by the Learning and Skills Council see the piloting of The 2009 nominees are: games in hand the The young striker was awarded a professional In the South West the week provides the opportunity to celebrate e-learning materials Wickes Young Apprentice Award - Championship Tigers are in control contract at the end of his Apprenticeship in the Conference Swindon achievements, raise the profile of apprentices supporting the Aaron Morris – Cardiff City of their own destiny. summer of 2008 and has featured in the Saints Town remain 6 points and also remind employers of the vital role Psychology Unit of the Curtis Wynter – Coventry City NVQ taking place from senior squad numerous times this season. clear of second apprentices play in industry. LFE fully intend to Sean Scannell – Crystal Palace In the North West early in the New Year. Oscar Gobern – Southampton placed Plymouth, support The LSC in this initiative by showcasing Conference the Ross Jenkins – Watford but with two games the successes of our Apprentices at Football Clarets have been John Dunleavy – Wolverhampton Wanderers in hand Argyle will League Clubs and underlining the benefits of left chasing Carlisle be hoping to catch the Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence. Nivea for Men Apprentice Award – League One and pass the current Utd and Wrexham Tom Aldred – Carlisle United League leaders as they battle for Andrew Milne – Leeds United the title. With a goal Luke O’Neill – Leicester City and retain their Harry Baker – Leyton Orient title for the second scoring average that Daniel Powell – MK Dons season running. is better than 3 goals Stuart O’Keefe – Southend United a game the Clarets Sean Morrison – Swindon Town Rushden & Diamonds will be hoping that their firepower will Nivea for Men Apprentice Award – League Two are currently sitting It’s your Newsletter pretty at the top see them triumph Robin Nicholls – Brentford Got a story? Want to share news with other LFE partners? George Bowyer – Rochdale of the South East come the end of Matthew Phillips – Wycombe Wanderers Conference, but the season. This is your newsletter and we welcome any contributions from all Apprentices, Coaches, Clubs, Parents and Partners. 2 If you have a story, email : [email protected] 3 PFA Coaching Never too young to learn says The PFA’s Geoff Lomax As The PFA’s Regional Coach in the North West, I travel across the region to deliver the Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football to a range of individuals from ex pro’s to Apprentices & Professionals of clubs in all divisions. It would be fair to say that all the clubs As Craig states; “It was a learning curve and and players I deal with are both supportive if it could help me succeed and progress and switched on to the benefits of the further in my career then I needed to ask qualification, however one Club and questions to better understand it. I also found Apprentice has to be applauded for their that the course helped me appreciate what efforts over the last two years. the coach was trying to do or get me to do on the training pitch”. A 92% success rate on the L2 qualification during the last two seasons is testament Craig’s interest went further. On hearing that to the hard work of all the Apprentices a number of senior Professionals at the club Supporting our and Coaching staff at Tranmere Rovers. were going to attend a UEFA B course with Yet one particular Apprentice, now turned The PFA he was soon asking if he could join in. professional, stood out from the crowd and Charity Partners really impressed me, namely Craig Curran. Most young player’s would have enough to contend with trying to establish themselves in Craig was really keen on the Level 2 course, the first team squad but as Craig says; “I saw During the 2008 – 09 season LFE has The pack has been utilised by a number Boots for Africa, CLIC Sargent, Kick it always asking questions about coaching this as the next step, I wanted to know what been pleased to highlight the work of of clubs which has seen Apprentices Out and The Sporting Chance Clinic. and the game in general. Needless to say he the manager would be asking of me when I passed with flying colours in-spite of having was training with the 1st team and this gave charity partners Boots for Africa, CLIC involving in themselves in equality to cope with the demands of making his first me a great vision of what’s expected”. Sargent, Kick it Out and The Sporting presentations, coaching sessions, school From Santa Dashes to 24 Hour team debut while taking the qualification. Chance Clinic. visits and the donation of used challenges and boot donations, LFE will The course is still on going, Craig is still football boots. continue to support the ethos of all All the emotions and expectations which playing and asking questions and the next surrounded him during that time could generation of Apprentices have just passed Phase one was the production of the our charity partners and hope that all have weighed heavily on his shoulders and their Level 2 coaching badge. ASE Activity pack which celebrated the Keen to ensure that we practice what clubs participating in ASE will be able the coaching course could easily have been activities of these organisations and was we preach LFE Staff have also been to integrate these worthwhile activities neglected, but no, he still attended the At Tranmere Rovers it really does seem that course, and was still as enthusiastic as ever it’s ‘never too young to learn’. launched to coincide with Kick it Out’s eager participants in engaging with into their schedules. when it came to his Final Assessment. ‘Weeks of Action’. 4 5 Progression 09 Progression 09 The Two Events Progression 2009 Progression 2009 The Northern Event Progression is back for 2009 and 25th/26th March 2009 The Sheffield Arena it’s bigger and better than ever! Sheffield The Northern event is also being held in It only seems like yesterday when are well on their way to becoming conjunction with Careers in Sport and Leisure a spring Mancunian day last March qualified gym instructors employed by Many are reaping (CSL) which also means double the exhibitors greeted the inaugural Progression08 Fitness First having undertaken a Gym for you to meet. If that’s not enough The Royal careers event held at the City of Instructor qualification with YMCAfit. the rewards of Marines have got an even more spectacular Manchester Stadium. show planned and there will also be a few Former Apprentices James Hoad the Progression surprise visits from personalities across the whole of the sporting world.