Lincoln City’s youth-team players have been putting something back into local grassroots football while working with The Professional Footballers’ Association to complete the Level 2 coaching qualification.
The Imps first-year apprentices visited the Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School in a move that proved mutually beneficial to both parties. The apprentices able to prepare for final assessments while the same the school children to received the benefit of working from players who are just one rung away from being fully fledged professionals and qualified coaches.
“Lincoln City is a community club and building community links is at the heart of everything that the academy tries to do,” said Damian Froggatt, the club’s head of youth.
“We have a fantastic relationship with Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School (LCHS), which is now the venue for many of our fixtures, and we were delighted when the school agreed to the idea.”
PFA Tutor Brian Borrows, who delivers the Level 2 coaching programme at Lincoln City and many other clubs believes the moves helped to empower many of the apprentices ahead of their assessments:
“Sometimes young players struggle when coaching their peers and they find it difficult to communicate and manage each other,” Borrows said.
“Coaching younger, mixed ability players from grassroots of the sport, helps develop important communication and leadership skills and the boys were clearly more confident when they delivered their coaching assessments,” he added.
Head of PE at LCHS, Martin Whitaker, said that opening the schools doors to its local football club was a great experience for pupils.
“We were thrilled when the club approached us and everyone who took part really enjoyed the coaching,” he said.
“It was fascinating to watch Lincoln’s apprentices really engage with the children and I think everyone benefitted from the experience.”
