FA STEP INTO SPORT VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME
I hope you are well.
I invite your club to take part in the FA’s Step into Sport volunteer programme that aims to place young volunteer leaders into FA Charter Standard clubs starting in April / May 2007.
This is a fantastic opportunity for FA Charter Standard clubs to recruit new volunteers via the FA Step into Sport programme.
The programme targets young people aged 14 to 19 years of age who have attended a sports leader’s award (CSLA, JSLA) including the football specific FA Junior Football Organisers course or have a football coaching qualification. The JFO courses are delivered in Secondary Schools and Colleges.
There are four themes that young volunteer leaders can choose from, Theme 1 – Assisting in coaching, Theme 2 – Behind the scenes, Running the Football Club / Supporting the Youth League, Theme 3 – Marketing & Promotion, Theme 4 – Officiating, Running the Game!
YOUNG VOLUNTEER LEADER PLACEMENTS
The vital part in the process of Step into Sport is the placement for the young volunteer leader in a FA Charter Standard Club. This ensures that minimum operating standards are in place and that the young volunteer leader has a positive volunteering experience that includes working alongside qualified coaches should Theme 1 be the chosen option.
The chosen club is required to attend a 90 minute workshop ‘The FA Mentoring Young People’ to ensure that they fully understand their role and are ready to receive the placed young volunteer(s). Clubs will be supported by myself and colleague Alexis Lunn to ensure that there is a real tangible benefit for both young volunteers and the clubs involved.
OPERATING PROCEDURES FOR THE PROGRAMME
1. Leadership / FA Junior Football Organisers Course completed at school
2. Identification of local FA Charter Standard Club by HFA for placement.
3. Briefing evening held between nominated club mentors / school with HFA delivering 90 minute workshop ‘FA Mentoring Young People’ to establish procedures.
4. Ten-week placement programme in nominated club with volunteer leader delivering one of the four themes.
5. Following 10 hours volunteering completed, club mentor to contact HFA to request 10 hour certificate.
6. Review of placement and club / volunteer leader to decide if placement is to continue and which theme to focus on.
7. Club mentor to contact HFA upon completion of 25 and 50 volunteer hours for certificates.
8. Upon 50 hours completion, names of young volunteers are sent to the Youth Sport Trust to recognise them on the national Step into Sport programme. Students will receive further recognition via the Youth Sports Trust when they have achieved 100 and 200 hours of volunteering.
9. County FA to support young volunteer leaders who are a minimum of 16 years of age to achieve FA Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football as well as other qualifications where appropriate.
To find out more and to download the FA’s Step into Sport framework please visit the following link:
www.thefa.com/GrassrootsNew/School/Postings/2006/05/StepIntoSport
I sincerely hope that you will wish to take part in this exciting volunteer programme.
To register your club, college or schools interest and to find out more about how the FA’s Step into Sport programme can be of benefit please click on the link to the right and complete and return the reply form. Please complete and return the form even if your club is not interested in finding out more and taking part in the programme.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours in Sport,
Paul
Paul Carpenter
Football Development Officer
01432 342179 email paul.carpenter@herefordshirefa.com