Magazine

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Foreword
The Boot Room magazine
to go digital-only from August
Why do we
do what we do?
What do we need
to do to get better?
These are two questions asked on a daily basis in our work with
the England teams across the men’s, women’s and disability
game, as well as in our FA education department.
Our belief is that by continually asking – and acting upon - critical
questions will help us create a truly elite environment in all that
we do. We should all strive to move with the times and adjust to
modern ways of learning, the incredible opportunities the digital
age brings us and the changes within the game itself.
Prioritising the time to review and reflect on your coaching
methods and processes should never be underestimated – it’s
what allows you to effectively tweak and change your approach
and get better in the future.
This edition of The Boot Room magazine – the third in a series
looking at the England DNA Plan, Do, Review model – focuses
on the importance of effective reflective practice.
As parents, volunteers and part-time coaches it is fully appreciated
that finding time to reflect on your coaching sessions can be
challenging – enough time is volunteered already.
From August, The Boot Room
magazine will be available in a
digital-only format for coaches.
The move from the print version will
see coaches receive a monthly email
which brings together a collection of
the latest FA coaching news, articles,
interviews and session plans.
The digital version of The Boot Room
magazine will be free of charge and
aims to ensure all those involved or
interested in developing the game
have access to The FA’s latest coaching
content – no coaching qualification is
required to receive the content.
The digital version of the magazine
will also make relevant links to the
wealth of content published in the
magazine since its beginning in August
2011, with recommended reading lists
to accompany each article.
Links to the latest FA coaching
video footage as well as existing
FA Masterclass footage will also
be included.
More details about the new digital
version of The Boot Room will be
communicated in the summer.
THEFA.COM
THE
A framework for reflection
Ceri Bowley, FA Regional Coach Mentor Officer, discusses
the importance of engaging in reflective practice, looking
back on the impact on his own coaching.
+READ MORE
How a creative development programme
and the opportunity to play helped
Dele Alli reach the top
Assessing the impact
In 2012, The FA Youth Development review was
published and 25 recommendations made to improve
Youth football. Four years on, Professor Mark Wilson and
Dr Sadie Hollins from the University of Exeter assess the
impact of the review.
+READ MORE
THEFA.COM
THE
How a creative development programme and the
opportunity to play helped Dele Alli reach the top
A mock up of the new digital version
of The Boot Room magazine
available in August 2016.
As such, we hope the wide variety of articles and reflective
frameworks included in this edition will offer at least a couple
of quick and easy-to-use ideas you can utilise in your work.
In the words of the famous ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky
“skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been”.
Enjoy the edition.
Dan Ashworth
FA Technical Director