England Football Learning Celebrate Latest UEFA Pro Diploma Graduates
The latest cohort of England Football Learning graduates have celebrated achieving their UEFA Pro Diploma.
The full cohort represented clubs and organisations from across both men’s and women’s football in England and beyond, including the likes of Laura Kaminski, Sonia Bompastor, Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper.
The UEFA Pro Diploma is the highest professional game coaching course offered by England Football Learning and was designed to develop learners into highly skilled coaches and managers capable of creating and sustaining success in modern football.
Throughout the programme, the group developed their own management strategies, decision-making and problem-solving within high-performing football environments.
The group, who met regularly throughout the course, completed seven modules, combining independent study, face-to-face learning and coach development support visits.
Highlights of the programme included hands-on workshops using the latest technology and facilities at St George’s Park, exposure to industry-leading experts from both football and business, and a study visit to an international tournament, bringing the course’s themes to life in a real-world working environment.
Professional tutors from within England Football Learning also offered six individual one-to-one coach development support sessions throughout the programme.
Senior Coach Developer and Programme Lead at The FA, Guy Whittingham, said: “It’s a celebration! The purpose is to allow these people, who have committed so much to the course, to enjoy the evening and celebrate getting through it. It’s getting tougher every year because of the demands of the game, so it’s a special event for them.
“The modern game is always changing. You’ve got to stay up with the tactics being used, the players coming through, and how the players are learning and behaving.”
He added: “The increased demands of the game, along with the scrutiny from the media and social media, means it’s vital that coaches understand the environment they are working in and continue to develop throughout their careers.”
Current Head Coach of Toppserien club SK Brann, Laura Kaminski, said: “What surprised me most was the amount of different skill sets in the room and the amount that people needed to share and be open about their experiences from many years in the game.
“It’s been fantastic to learn from so many like-minded people and have a safe place where everyone supports each other.
“There are so many things from the course that you can take back and apply in your own environment. Especially the media side for me, it’s directly applicable to my role.”
First Team Assistant Manager at AFC Bournemouth, Tommy Elphick, added: “The most important part of these courses is that you come and share. You can become quite closed off in what you’re doing, but when you open yourself up, it’s the sharing and the connections you make with different people that really bring the course to life.
“Some of the richness from this course comes from moments you don’t expect, connecting with people you don’t expect to connect with. As long as you’re open-minded, there’s a lot to take from the course.”
Images: England Football Learning
