Special League meeting – 7.30pm

As an integral part of the qualifying procedure for the FA Charter Standard League Award the League submitted a detailed Football Development Plan covering the next 4 seasons.  Hopefully you will have had the opportunity of looking through the more specific sections of this plan as it has been included in the 2009/2010 Handbook.

In conjunction with the Development Team at the West Riding County FA we now wish to honour our obligation to member clubs by offering and arranging courses in refereeing and practical workshops in coaching.  The Management Committee feels initially that we should be concentrating on these 2 areas, particularly referee courses, as we are experiencing a decline in numbers. 

At a recent meeting with Andrew Shuttleworth (Senior Development Officer) and Steve Rhodes (Referee Development Officer) it was agreed that as an initial introduction to refereeing the West Riding County FA would provide exclusive courses for all officials and volunteers of member clubs in the Garforth League in “Match Day Skills 11v11 Junior Football” and “Mini-Soccer”.  The location and dates of the courses will depend on the number of applicants but the 11v11 courses will be held indoor/outdoor (3 hours) and the Mini-Soccer indoor (2 hours).  There will be a nominal fee of £5 per person for the 11v11 course(s) but the Mini-Soccer course(s) will be free with the League meeting the balance of the cost. 

We are conscious there will be some club members who already referee on a regular basis but who may want to increase their knowledge and enhance their skills.  The WRCFA also offer courses that provide a qualification in 11v11 football and the League is prepared to consider contributing towards the cost of these courses (normally £60/£80) subject to interest from member clubs. 

I would be grateful if you could let me know the number of people within your club who would be interested in the:-

1. Match Day Skills 11v11 referee course
2. Match Day Skills Mini-Soccer referee course
3. Basic 11v11 referee course (with qualification) 

In order that we can get the courses organised at the earliest opportunity I would be grateful for your replies as soon as possible. 

In addition to offering the Referee courses the League is committed to providing access to courses/practical workshops in the following areas, also as detailed in our Football Development Plan:-

• Junior Football Organisers course
• Level 1 CCF course
• Age Appropriate Coaching module
• Level 3 Youth Award (Module 1)
• Safeguarding Children Workshop
• Welfare Officer Workshop
• Emergency Aid Workshop
• Football for all Equality Workshop
• Transition from 7 to 11-a-side football
• Working With Teams Workshop
• Long Term Player Development
• Level 1 to Level 2 Certificate in Coaching

Clearly the League cannot undertake all of these specialist courses/workshops at the same time but we do have the support of the Development Team at the West Riding County FA to help us co-ordinate and deliver them in a sensible and respectable time frame.

In this respect we have arranged for a Special League Meeting to be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 19^th November at Ossett Town AFC at which clubs will have the opportunity of discussing their needs and priorities in relation to the above list.  We need you to be vocal at this meeting and encourage you to send as many coaches/managers/secretaries as possible so that we can decide where the priorities lie and proceed accordingly.

Andrew Shuttleworth and Pav Singh from County’s Development Team will be present to answer all your questions so please help us to help you by attending.  Updated Respect packs will also be distributed at the meeting.

Many thanks for your continued support.
Yours Sincerely
David Brown
Secretary