Personally I have volunteered at local level for the past 8 years working with as many different age groups as possible, u8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,18 and adults. I have volunteerd, a 90 mile round trip away, to work
with Hellenic Premier side Witney Town, to improve myself and develop as a coach from a different experience in a different environment and have returned back to my local team and worked with First, reserve and U18 teams again to experience different levels of ability and maturity to develop as a coach.
Following completing my Youth Award Module 1 and 2, I met Marc Canham of the FA who then moved to Bristol City Academy as Head of Foundation Phase and created the Trainee Coach initiative. I applied on Marc's recommendation and was accepted on to the voluntary learning programme for coaches. I volunteered for 7 months and gave myself the opportunity to work with A and B Licensed coaches as well as some of the best young players in the South West of England. Living 45 miles from the City makes this a difficult task but in my mind you have to do what you have to do.
Following my initial 7 months I was offered the opportunity to help develop the U8's looking to sign on for the Academy at u9 age group. This then allowed me to be registered with the club and the football league and be a permanent member of the team. I continue to work voluntarily, with U18's and have recently vacated the position of U10's manager at my local club due to my commitments at the Academy, as well as running my coaching company going from school to school and delivering Soccer Schools during half terms.
I have now developed through to working with the U11's as assistant coach and am completing my Youth Module 3 in March.
So my question this week is, how far would you go?
Would you travel for no payment because there was a chance it might help you to make connections and develop as a coach? Would you travel distance or dedicate hours, days, weeks and months because there was the slightest chance of paid employment in the pro game at the end of it?
