The key element of this project was we wanted to engage with European host partners which operated and delivered their coach education and developed the game differently to ours. Through this approach we anticipated key learnings with regards identifying key threads in the game including training methods, approaches to coaching, planning, evaluation and player development across Europe. This has all added to the career progression of our coaches and opened further opportunities to develop at a international level
The Scottish FA applied for this project as we regard European mobility projects a key part of the assessment criteria of our UEFA accredited coaching qualifications but these projects are also key to improving, competencies, knowledge, skills and experience which is an integral part of the strategic development of the Scottish FA with regards to quality development and internationalism. This project also supported our goals in developing a world class coach education system, it allows our coaches to connect with each other in person creating much more appropriate communities of practice. When we put our coaches together for a period of time (i.e. a week) residentially, this helps to ‘microwave’ their learning by immersing them in conversations and collaborative work during that period of time. The host partners engaged in the project provided the coaches with the opportunity to learn best practice in developing youth football players, so that we can contrast and compare current working practices from across Europe.