Academy Training
Expectations of the Academy Coaches at Westfields
In The FA’s survey of over 37,000 grassroots participants, behaviour was the biggest concern in the game. This included both the abuse of match officials and the unacceptable behaviour by over-competitive parents, spectators and coaches on the side-lines. The FA’s Respect programme is aimed at tackling unacceptable behaviour across the whole game.
At Westfields FC, we follow a zero tolerance approach in observing the FA’s Respect Code of Conduct for coaches, team managers and club officials at all times. As a minimum, we expect all coaches to follow this approach:
A Westfields Coach will:
- Show respect to others involved in the game including match officials, opposition players, coaches, managers, officials and spectators
- Adhere to the Laws of the Game
- Display and promote high standards of behaviour
- Always respect the match officials’ decisions
- Never enter the field of play without the referee’s permission
- Never engage in public criticism of the match officials
- Never engage in, or tolerate, offensive, insulting or abusive language or behaviour.
When working with players, the coach will:
- Place the well-being, safety and enjoyment of each player above everything, including winning
- Explain exactly what they expect of players and what the players can expect from the coach
- Ensure the parents/carers of all players under the age of 18 understand these expectations
- Refrain from, and refuse to tolerate any form of bullying
- Develop mutual trust and respect with every player to build the players self-esteem
- Encourage each player to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance
- Ensure all activities organised are appropriate for the players’ ability level, experience, age and maturity
- Co-operate fully with others in football (e.g. officials, doctors, physiotherapists, welfare officers) for each player’s best interests
Junior coaches at Westfields fully understand that breaches of the code may result in action being taken by the Herefordshire County FA and /or The FA.
As coaches at Westfields FC, we will look to use the following guidelines on coaching, as we meet the expectations set out above…