2010 Annual report - Scottish Football Association

02 on the field:
Live it, Play it, Love it
02 on the field
Club Development
McDonald’s also continued to
support grassroots club development,
announcing a new four-year deal
to extend its involvement in the
Scottish FA Quality Mark accreditation
scheme, which aims to raise standards
within clubs.
With investment from The Big Lottery
Fund and Youth Action Plan, six fulltime
club development managers
were recruited to oversee support
and investment for over 300 clubs.
One hundred and sixty clubs
have now achieved Quality Mark
accreditation. Kilwinning Community
Sports Club, Spartans Community
FC, Cumbernauld Colts and Letham
Community Sports Club (McDonald’s/
Sunday Mail Community Club of
the Year) are just a few of the clubs
who have developed pathways
supporting participation at all levels,
from young boys and girls through to
adult football.
Coach Education
The coveted UEFA Pro Licence course
concluded in March 2010 with the
presentation of diplomas taking place
before Scotland’s victory against the
Czech Republic.
Some of world football’s most
renowned coaches were on hand
to offer their unique insights into
coaching at the highest level,
among them Andy Roxburgh,
Gordon Strachan, Kevin Keegan, Lars
Lagerback, Sam Allardyce, Kenny
Dalglish and the former Germany
assistant manager, Erich Rutemoller.
The participants went on a club
visit to Everton, where David Moyes
made a presentation on his football
philosophy. They also took part in
an intensive programme during the
European Under-21 Championships
in Sweden.
Another successful B licence course,
involving professional players, took
place during the international
breaks at Toryglen Regional Football
Centre in Glasgow. All senior leagues
were represented and hopefully all
coaches involved will progress to the
A licence.
The Scottish FA has also embraced
UEFA’s Continuous Professional
Development directive, which
encourages coaches to keep their
licences up-to-date by completing
15 hours of development over a
three-year period. Craig Brown,
the Motherwell manager, gave a
positive presentation and Alan Irvine,
the Sheffield Wednesday manager,
conducted a practical session.
The first Children’s Licence was also
completed and those involved
praised a challenging and innovative
course.
National Player Pathway
The Scottish FA has worked closely
with colleagues from the Scottish
Youth FA to design an agreed
National Player Pathway for all
recreational football under the SYFA
banner. This is a momentous move in
rationalising all the rules and formats
and will allow a best-practice model
to operate in Scottish youth football.
After more than a year’s work, and
20 consultations and road shows,
the Player Pathway was launched in
February with an implementation plan
for delivery by the middle of next year.
The Pathway has been designed to
be progressive and challenging to our
young players and will better prepare
them to reach their potential.
It will continually evolve over the
coming years to allow new best
practice to be integrated and provide
an even better service to our coaches
and players.
Youth Forum
The Scottish FA hosted a Youth Forum
in August. Andy Roxburgh, Technical
Director of UEFA, addressed the
audience on topics surrounding youth
development. The former Scotland
manager was joined by Scottish FA
director of football development, Jim
Fleeting, Aberdeen’s Neil Simpson and
Positive Coaching Scotland’s Tommy
Boyle, along with 136 delegates who
provided some excellent information
on the thoughts and opinions of youth
coaches. An electronic response
system was used throughout the forum
to glean answers to the questions set,
debate points raised and progress the
topic. Gordon Smith, who hosted the
event, stated the Youth Forum was a
very stimulating debate and would
help inform our thoughts in the future.
SCOTTISH FA
SCOTTISH FA
12 ANNUAL REVIEW 2010
ANNUAL REVIEW 2010 13