The Devon County FA Young Leadership Programme
The Devon County FA (DCFA) Step into Sport (SIS) Young Leadership programme for 2009 is in progress and has a selection of Young Leaders from across the County involved in the Programme. The aim of the DCFA Young Leadership programme is to support a number of Young Leaders as they look to gain invaluable experience and knowledge through volunteering their time to work in football. This can be achieved through volunteer placements at local Charter Standard Clubs, working at School Sports Partnership based Events and supporting DCFA run events. The themes the Young Leaders can volunteer their time for include:
• Assisting in coaching and fun activities for young people
• Behind the scenes - Running the Football Club / School/ Organisation
• Marketing and Promotion
• Officiating – Running the Game
The DCFA are committed to provide any support and guidance necessary for the chosen Young Leaders to make the most of the volunteering experience and provide them with some valuable life skills that they take with them. The DCFA will also help each Young Leader to gain a number of football related qualifications. The local Football community will also benefit by gaining the services of a willing and proactive volunteer.
The programme started by offering each School Sports Partnership in Devon the chance to nominate 4 Young Leaders from their Partnership to attend a DCFA Young Leadership Evening held at Exeter City FC on the 5th February 2009. From this there were a number of tasks set for each Young Leader to complete and return. On assessing these and through talent ID at Exeter, 20 have been invited to officially join the DCFA Young Leadership Programme and are all actively involved with volunteering their time to local football.
The First DCFA Young Leadership training day for the 2009 programme took place on the 1st March 2009 at the County Office. The Young Leaders that could attend were taken through a Mini Soccer Match Day Skills refereeing course and spent some individual time with the allocated DCFA contact officer to discuss their placements and work on an individual Personal Development Plan. The aim is to run further training for the Young Leaders and monitor their progress.
There are a number of exit routes through the FA open to the Young Leaders on the programme. The first one is the opportunity for them to attend the Regional Young Leadership Camp, this is being hosted by Somerset at Taunton Vale on the 15th April. From this 2 Young Leaders will be selected to attend the FA National Young Leadership Camp which is a week long Camp organised by National FA Staff and is held in Nottingham. From the National Camp 4 Young Leaders will be offered the opportunity to go to Africa on an international Young Leadership trip. A number of Young Leaders from the National Camp will be selected to join a National Coaching Scholarship programme which will provide them with support with their coaching.
Any queries on the Step into Sport programme, please contact Lee Rider on 01626 323562, lee.rider@devonfa.com