City defender Richard Wood has backed a new education programme for Year 11 students...
Sky Blues in the Community and Henley College are currently recruiting for their exciting new ‘Football Development Centre’ education programme for current Year 11 students.
The programme – which starts in September this year – offers a range of academic sports qualifications that will allow students to consider further qualifications, university or a career in the sports industry.
The Football Development Centre scheme is also unique as it is the only football and education programme that will provide the opportunity for students to represent Coventry City FC in a professional club colleges’ league and regular Futsal festivals.
The qualifications on offer are all full-time courses and include Level 1 and 2 Diplomas in Sport and Active Leisure, a Level 3 BTEC Diploma and a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and the Active Leisure Industry.
The courses are available to 16-19 year olds, and the variety of qualifications on offer allows students with a range of GCSE results to be eligible for the programme.
Those students enrolling in the Football Development Centre programme will benefit from up to eight hours coaching with Coventry City/ Sky Blues in the Community coaches, assisting with their technical and tactical development.
The training will be supplemented with regular fixtures against other professional club college schemes, with students representing Coventry City, playing against other clubs such as Chelsea, Fulham and Birmingham City. Regular Futsal festivals will also take place at St George’s Park in Burton, home of the England football teams.
Students will gain coaching and leadership qualifications, helping them prepare for working in the sport and leisure industry – and volunteer placements may be available through the Sky Blues in the Community initiatives in schools and community venues.
Coventry City defender, and Sky Blues in the Community Education Ambassador Richard Wood said “The Football Development Centre education programme is a fantastic scheme that will develop young players, but also offer them qualifications that will help them in their career if their future lies away from professional football.”
Sky Blues in the Community’s David Busst was also keen to express his support for the programme “The students will be benefiting from regular, sustained high quality coaching during a key period of their development as players.
“As a club we have a history and a strong track record of developing young players through the Academy and feeding them in to the full professional ranks.
“The Football Development Centre education programme is another mechanism for us to track and develop local talented young players under the banner of Coventry City FC.”
Henley College are currently accepting applications for the programme, and anyone interested in finding out more can do so by visiting www.henley-cov.ac.uk or contacting Henley College on 024 7662 6330.