Romford YMCA run 8 sessions a week for children aged between 6 and 12. They believe the programme is an ideal introduction for the skills needed to become a competent footballer. Earlier this year, a few of the older children took part in a shot exhibition displaying their newly developed skills at the local community Easter Fayre.
The reception they received was fantastic and proved to them that the skills they had been learning were both worthwhile and impressive.

The FA National Course schedule for 2003 is now more extensive than ever before. Our residential* courses are held in a variety of high-class venues such as Lilleshall National Sports Centre, Warwick University, Bisham Abbey NSC and Keele University. At these venues, candidates can feel confident that they will be learning with the best available facilities and FA qualified staff.

All our course fees include tuition, National Assessment**, Accommodation, Meals, Resources and Vat.

Candidates can enrol on a range of courses ranging from basic coaching such as the 1st4sport Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football to courses in FA Psychology, FA Sports Medicine and FA Exercise Science.

The easiest way to learn more about The FA’s National Courses is to log onto www.theFA.com/FALearning. Registering onto this site will give you quick access to Course dates, programs, venues and prices whilst also providing you with a facility to apply and pay online… getting qualified has never been so easy!


* Please be aware that some venues require candidates to share rooms.
** Not Re-assessment.

Le Roy Sherrier, President of The Costa Rica Soccer Academy

'We are working with kids from 6 to 16 years and I am very pleased to let you know that we are working with The Soccer Star Programme and the children are delighted'.


Aweis Mohammed works with the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) and Play and Youth Service for Islington Council in London.

Aweis has run successful Soccer Star Courses within schools in Islington, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest (primary and secondary), and managed Hackney college football team in 1992. Already more than 200 school children have participated and have received their F.A. Soccer Star Awards. He has been a provider of The Football Association Soccer Star Scheme since 1994 and has reviewed The F.A. Soccer Star website.

He says "The website is excellent - easy to navigate - and will be most beneficial to coaches and teachers running a Soccer Star course. In particular, being able to produce their own certificates for presentation at the end of the course".

Aweis Mohammed with pupils from Highbury Quadrant Primary School, in the London Borough of Islington, who recently attended an F.A. Soccer Star Course.

The Mirror - 11 July 2001 - Matt Kelly

Football coaching site from The F.A. for budding Beckhams and Zidanes. Uses flash, video and audio to great effect to demonstrate football techniques and training drills. Easy to navigate and offering something for players of all abilities. Well worth a bookmark for kids and coaches.

The Guardian - 05 July 2001

Step-by-step instructions, movies, games and drills to get across important coaching points on basic skills such as running, tackling and shooting. It might even teach us Sunday morning hackers a thing or two as well.

Here are the observations of some of the coaches who have recently piloted The F.A. Soccer Star Challenge on the Internet:

Mick Couzens, Recreation Soccer Advisor, Saudi Aramco Oil Co, Saudi Arabia

'Brilliant, because everything is clear and easy to follow'.

Jeff Vernall, Community Development Officer for Sport, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England

'I thought the website was very well presented, easy to move around and easy to use'.

Jed Starkey, UEFA 'A' Coach, Preston North End FC Centre of Excellence, Nationwide Division 1, England

'Presentation was good with interactive graphics and vibrant colours. I am a firm believer that this type of coaching at grass roots level can only serve to support our national game in the long run. I use the Soccer Stars, along with the Centre of Excellence Programme, as the basis of building a 16 week programme. This programme concludes with the award of the Soccer Stars'.

Your name - as the coach of the class - will be printed on the players' Certificates, and you can also personally sign these Certificates once printed