Issue 7 - October 08 touchline News from League Football Education News p2 Coach Focus p4 MLS Progression Partners p6 & 7 LFE Blogs p10 Club Focus p14 LFE creates opportunitiespages 6 & 7 across the pond Also in this months issue: The future’s bright for our Apprentices p6 & 7 Dearne Valley and Sheffield Wednesday continue to impress p12 LFE is a partnership LFE Technical between The Football Partner League and The Professional Footballers’ Association. With the season winners Hull City South region group PUMA now in full swing will be looking matches kicked off news the battle has to defend their in mid September LFE Virtual Learning begun for crown but there’s and top of the YOUTH the regional everything to play table Swindon Conference for at this early Town are leading ALLIANCE League titles. stage of the season. group one having Environment (VLE) Last years League won all four of their In the Puma Youth UPDATE and Cup double games so far. It’s (virtually) here! Higher Alliance Cup the Many Apprentices will have (e-Tracking). These systems have accessed the VLE during been successfully implemented Education the first few weeks of their with 10 football clubs utilising Apprenticeship to undertake the the e-Review system for the Initial Assessment and Diagnostic last phase of NVQ reviews Guide tests. The VLE system has been during August and September. LFE’s Guide to Higher enhanced further in recent LFE now plan to roll out the months to include electronic e-Review system to all clubs and Education Applications is individual learning plans (e-ILP), education providers before the due to be published in early reviews (e-Reviews) and tracking end of this academic year. November 2008 and contains information that is relevant to all Apprentice Footballers who are considering applying for ASE ACTIVITY PACK Higher Education courses. This year LFE have Chance Clinic are with the opportunity It offers an insight into factors produced an Activity organisations that share collect evidence that to consider when applying for It’s your Newsletter Pack to celebrate some common traits can be used across the a Higher Education course, the activities of in their excellent work qualifications contained a full guide to the UCAS Got a story? Want to organisations that we throughout the football, in the ASE educational application process including share news with other are currently proud educational and framework. to support which has community sectors. Clearing and information LFE partners? now been distributed The Activity Pack plus regarding student to Apprentices/Clubs to The work contained additional resources finance and support. This is your newsletter and we coincide with the Kick it in the Activity booklet are now available on welcome any contributions Out ‘Weeks of Action’. should stimulate debate the LFE website for all The guide will be available from all Apprentices, Coaches, and awareness of Apprentices/Clubs to to view and download from Boots for Africa, CLIC issues that face all of utilise so please visit Clubs, Parents and Partners. Sargent, Kick it Out these organisations and www.lfe.org.uk to make the LFE website. If you have a story, email and The Sporting provide Apprentices use of these resources. [email protected] 2 3 Apprentice of the Month PFA Coaching “ Listen, APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH RE-LAUNCH Learn, Bentley is Back! This September LFE re-launched the ‘Apprentice of the Month’ Reflect” award, in association with PUMA, and this year the prizes are truly outstanding. After his excellent support at Progression08 David Do you have what it takes to Bentley is back to support the monthly award programme. be a successful Professional? LFE and PUMA are keen to celebrate the success of Whether you’re 30 years old or have just joined as Apprentices that have excelled on the ASE programme. an Apprentice, the same rules apply. Listen, Learn, Reflect and most importantly understand what The awards will run from September ‘08 through to April you’re being taught. ‘09 and each month LFE Regional Officers will be asked Andy chases Leeds to nominate Apprentices that they feel best match some United’s Eric Cantona All too often I encounter Apprentices who or all of the criteria. complain about their club, the coach, the training etc. Well it’s actually like that all over the country! The nominations will then be judged by LFE and It can be mentally, physically and technically the winner will be presented with the cup and the The criteria for nominating an demanding. Its not easy! The experience made me more confident and incredible prizes. helped me understand the role of a coach. Apprentice of the Month is So how can you make the most of your 2 years? This year the coveted prizes for EACH monthly The coach’s role is to give every individual the winner will include: I believe the key aspect is understanding the role maximum opportunity to develop and fulfil his outlined below: of the coach. What are they trying to do for you potential. On the Level 2 course we ask you to 1. An end of season invite to attend a day with David as an individual and as a part of a team? How do do that and show us your knowledge of how, Bentley and PUMA incorporating: 4 Excelled at College work they extract a performance and get you in the why, where and when to do something. • Q & A session with the England and Tottenham star 4 Excelled at football right frame of mind to play, to overcome injury, We want detail and understanding. to conquer defeat? What problems do they face • A PUMA product presentation 4 Overcame a hardship Mourinho expects his players to understand a in trying to do this? • A ‘Challenge David Bentley’ programme 4 Showed bravery to raise an issue triangle of positions on the pitch. Showed maturity in a difficult situation When we deliver the Level 2 Coaching Award, • A Sports quiz hosted by David Bentley 4 there are common trends that are apparent, Sir Alex, likewise, expects his ‘flexible’ forwards 4 Displayed a marked change in behaviour such as players who are predominantly one to use space and exploit space with their fluent 2. A PUMA Lifestyle products package including for the better attacking system. clothing and trainers footed, good at attacking but cannot defend, 4 Excelled in other areas that LFE/Club/ good goalkeepers but no idea of the game This modern approach and the ever-changing 3. A Marc Ecko watch College are looking to promote e.g. outside the penalty area. formations mean you have to be as savvy as (by kind donation Logged on to the LFE website the most ever. So a key message is – understand your of Ecko Unlimited) - The course highlights weaknesses in you as players time in the region but also shows you how to design practices to role, the game and your responsibility. Never be - Showed excellent awareness of Health & improve those aspects of your game. But how afraid to learn and be open to learning. If you Safety and Equality & Diversity don’t understand, ASK! Apply yourself 100% in many players actually go away and spend extra - Showed excellent drug awareness what you do and you’ll go far. time putting in this practice with their teammates? - Showed excellent awareness of Employee It can be tough at times dealing with your peers Rights & Responsibilities Good Luck. Each month the winner but I did my first coaching qualification at the will be featured on the - Gave particularly thoughtful/helpful feedback on ASE programme age of 19 with some well-known internationals. LFE website so keep Coaching them was tough but I survived. Andy Barlow - Showed excellent initiative when attending visiting to find out who careers fair the lucky winners are. - Excellent team working attributes 4 5 PROGRESSION PARTNERSHIP SIGNS UP Those who completed the Many were interested in Strengths-Based Coaching, their full ASE Framework Their partner association The organisation is in its The camps provide football ASE programme in 2007 the MLS opportunity and LFE’s Progression where talent is identified that includes the level 2 to the MLS League, 11th year as the official coaching for more than and 2008 have already their details have been and maximised in order to coaching qualification America’s premier league Partner programme camp and clinic of Major 270,000 players annually been contacted by LFE passed on to MLS Camps increase performance delivered by The PFA. MLS and specifically the L.A. got a boost in League Soccer and boasts across a wide variety of through our tracking and UK Development Manager and productivity. Camps have an annual Galaxy, Chicago Fire some impressive statistics. ages, from Under 4’s to monitoring programme. Chris Andrew in order for October as Major requirement for 450 and Real Salt Lake also Founded in 1969 MLS Under 18’s and at various The programme aims them to attend one of the Now that MLS Camps are coaches, 300 of whom will gives Apprentices the League Soccer camps operate across levels from recreational/ to track the destinations up coming recruitment official LFE Progression come from the UK, to fill 3 opportunity to stay in touch 1,200 locations in 44 states competitive to advanced of Apprentices and then days in the UK. Camps were Partners, these statistics month (June – August), 6 with the pinnacle of the with offices in 15 cities levels. MLS Camps say they offer opportunities to those signed up. translate in to real month (June – November) American game.