Introduction to Coaching Disabled Footballers
England Football Learning has launched a new free online module, with its ‘Introduction to Coaching Disabled Footballers’ module aiming to help existing grassroots clubs become more confident and inclusive towards coaching disabled footballers.
The course follows the 2021 launch of Football Your Way, The FA’s landmark disability football plan to help develop, improve, and raise awareness of disability and disability football.
In addition to helping to create and sustain a culture across the sport where disabled people have access to all opportunities and feel they truly belong, both on and off the pitch through Football Your Way, research was commissioned by England Football to help develop a disability training workshop and toolkit for grassroots football clubs to become more inclusive of disabled people on and off the pitch.
The research found that despite club volunteers being highly motivated to provide quality experiences for disabled people to play football at their club, coaches had a lack of knowledge and confidence about adapting football for disabled players. Coaches also felt they lacked the training and know-how to reach disabled people.
It also revealed that although disabled people are motivated to play football and clubs are motivated to provide quality experiences, key barriers stop many disabled people from playing. 28% of disabled people feel coaches don’t understand how to include them, while 31% worry they won’t be good enough.
The new ‘Introduction to Coaching Disabled Footballers’ free online course will address many of the barriers identified within the research. The course will provide knowledge and raise awareness on coaching disabled footballers, along with exploring the practical application of coaching tools, tactics, and techniques to adapt delivery to meet the needs of disabled footballers. The course is available to coaches aged 16 years of age and over and takes 60 minutes to complete.
You can find out more about the England Football Learning courses available here.