The programme offers a wide range of benefits and opportunities and young leaders are able to gain experience in volunteering across 6 themes. Here in Norfolk we run a Football Futures programme to suit everyone, whether your interest lies in being out on the field as a Coach or Referee or behind the scenes.
Who is the programme for?
Anyone aged 14-22 years old, who is interested in becoming involved in Leadership and Volunteering through football. Whether you want to volunteer in your school or college, or at your local FA Charter Standard Football Club, this programme will provide you with excellent opportunities to enhance your leadership skills, make new friends, gain FA qualifications and volunteer with Norfolk County FA and our partners.
How do I get involved?
You can enrol on the programme by contacting Darren Moss (Football Development Officer – Education) on 01603 704050, at Darren.Moss@NorfolkFA.com or by filling in and returning an expression of interest form, which is available to download at the bottom of the page.
Young Leaders are encouraged to gain experience in volunteering across the following 6 themes:
Coaching and Working with Teams
You could help coach and/or manage a football team in your school, college or university, or an FA Charter Standard Club. You could also volunteer on our FA Club Links Programme, or with the FA Skills Team. The FA Coach Scholarship Programme is designed to support the best young coaches in the country through mentoring support and a bursary to support you with gaining FA qualifications in order to develop as a coach.
Refereeing
As long as it’s on a voluntary basis you can referee games at a club, for your school, college or university. You can referee mini soccer games in festivals and if you decide to take it further, you can complete your Basic Refereeing Qualification and progress to refereeing 11-a-side football. Norfolk County FA provide regular opportunities for you to train as a referee and many of our current young leaders who themselves are qualified referees are always on hand to offer advice and guidance on the best way to get started.
Running Events
You could assist with the organisation, coordination and delivery of mini soccer festivals, club tournaments, fundraising events, and school or college events. Norfolk County FA can provide a range of volunteer opportunities for our young leaders to get involved in running and supporting football events.
Running and Developing the Game
We have volunteer placements available within FA Charter Standard Leagues for those whose interests may lie within organisation or administration. You could assist your PE staff with the running of intramural leagues or competitions or you could volunteer behind the scenes in a Charter Standard Club.
Promoting the Game
You could help with the development of your clubs website or social networking groups – keeping everything and everyone up to date! You could gain voluntary hours by writing match reports, press releases, website or newsletter articles or taking photographs. Norfolk County FA can provide opportunities within the Football Futures Programme to get involved in aspects of Publicity and Marketing.
Respect Ambassador
This role could involve supporting football events in making sure all teams understand competition rules and regulations, helping develop a code of conduct and ensuring players/coaches/spectators sign up and adhere to it. You could promote the Respect Programme within your school, college, university or club and also within Norfolk County FA’s Football Futures Programme.
What are the benefits to the programme?
There are many! Some of the main benefits include:
- Recognition of your voluntary work on the Norfolk FA website
- FA certificates awarded for your voluntary hours from 10-200 hours (in 25 hour intervals)
- Chance to enhance your leadership skills and gain new knowledge and experience
- Meet and work with young leaders from across the County
- Chance to climb the leadership pathway - become a leadership ambassador
- Opportunity to represent Norfolk at National FA events
- Annual Leadership Camp
- Annual Awards Programme
Further information, including testimonies from previous Young Leaders and an Expression of Interest Form, are available to download below.
