Advanced Youth Award – Elite Youth Football Coaching Development

The Advanced Youth Award is a specialist England Football Learning course for coaches working with elite young players in professional academy football.

Designed for experienced youth coaches, the programme focuses on developing talented players and creating high-quality technical programmes within professional academy environments.

The course builds on existing coaching expertise and explores the technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social elements of player development.

At a glance

Course: Advanced Youth Award
Provider: England Football Learning
Minimum age: 18
Level: Advanced youth coaching
Face-to-face learning: 10 days
In-situ support: Minimum of three days
Additional learning: Online workshops and sessions
Previous qualification: UEFA B Diploma required
Suitable for: Coaches working within EPPP boys' academy football
Attendance: All face-to-face and online components must be completed

What is the Advanced Youth Award?

The Advanced Youth Award has been developed specifically for coaches working with talented young footballers.

Working within professional academy football brings different challenges from coaching within a traditional grassroots environment.

Young players need coaching that considers their individual development alongside the technical and tactical demands of football.

The Advanced Youth Award helps coaches build the specialist knowledge required to support talented players as they progress through academy football.

The programme builds upon expertise gained through The FA's Long-Term Player Development Model.

Its wider aim is to support the development of a highly skilled community of youth coaches within the English game.

Who is the Advanced Youth Award for?

This is a specialist course with strict entry requirements.

To take part, coaches must currently work in boys' academy football at a club operating within the Elite Player Performance Plan, known as EPPP.

Applicants must also have completed the UEFA B Diploma.

Current Emergency First Aid in Football and appropriate Safeguarding Children qualifications are also required.

England Football Learning states that applicants must meet all prerequisites to be considered for a course place.

What will you learn?

The Advanced Youth Award explores how different areas of player development can work together.

Rather than concentrating solely on technical football skills, coaches consider the complete development of individual players.

Learning includes technical and tactical development alongside physical, psychological and social considerations.

This helps coaches understand how different factors can influence talented young players as they progress through academy football.

Understanding the three development phases

The programme explores coaching across three important age phases.

Foundation Phase – ages 5 to 11

Coaches explore the development needs of younger academy players and consider how their coaching can support long-term progression.

Youth Development Phase – ages 12 to 16

The programme considers the changing needs of players as they progress through their teenage years.

Professional Development Phase – ages 17 to 21

Coaches explore the requirements of players moving closer to professional senior football.

Understanding each phase helps coaches connect their learning directly to their role within their club.

What are the learning outcomes?

The course helps coaches understand how to align their coaching practice with the demands of the Elite Player Performance Plan.

You'll explore the impact of the four corners on player development.

Another important area involves learning how to individualise your coaching to meet different players' development and learning needs.

The programme aims to help coaches create an elite development experience that considers the complete player.

How is the Advanced Youth Award delivered?

The programme includes 10 days of face-to-face learning.

These learning days are supported by online sessions and workshops throughout the course.

Coaches also receive a minimum of three in-situ support visits.

These visits allow learning and development to take place within the coach's own football environment.

Full attendance is required across both the face-to-face and online elements to achieve the award.

Good to know before you apply

The Advanced Youth Award is not designed as a general grassroots football coaching qualification.

Applicants must already be working within an appropriate EPPP boys' academy environment.

You'll also need to have completed UEFA B alongside the required first aid and safeguarding qualifications.

England Football Learning receives high levels of interest in the programme.

Applicants who meet most, but not all, of the eligibility requirements will not be considered.

Check the latest requirements carefully before applying.

Developing the next generation of footballers

Working with talented young players involves much more than teaching football techniques.

Academy coaches can play an important role in supporting players through different physical, psychological and social stages of development.

The Advanced Youth Award helps experienced coaches consider these areas alongside technical and tactical development.

For coaches already working within professional academy football, it provides an opportunity to develop specialist youth coaching knowledge further.

Keep checking What's On Hampshire for Hampshire FA coaching courses, workshops, football development opportunities and other sporting opportunities.

You can also discover more things to do in Hampshire, grassroots football programmes and community sporting activities across the county.

FAQs

What is the Advanced Youth Award?

The Advanced Youth Award is a specialist England Football Learning qualification for coaches working with elite young footballers.

Who can take the Advanced Youth Award?

Applicants must work in boys' academy football at a club operating within the Elite Player Performance Plan.

What is the minimum age?

Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Do I need UEFA B?

Yes. Applicants must have completed the UEFA B Diploma.