Niall O'Regan and the FAI unveil their new batch of coach education for volunteers and coaches of all levels

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has launched a new online learning platform, called Me & My Learning, and can be accessed via meandmylearning.ie.

The Learning Platform will support coaches and volunteers at all levels of the game. 

This will allow parents, volunteers and coaches complete the theory entry level coaching courses and once completed they will then be contacted directly by the FAI Coach Development Team to complete the practical learning components to the entry level course. 

See FAI.ie for the steps volunteers and coaches need to take to complete formal entry level coaching courses with the FAI, which are Age and Stage appropriate allowing for a focus on coaching resources that are relevant to the age and stage of the children you are coaching.

For those interested in accessing the coaching courses, the first step is to start the Garda Vetting process, but it is important to note, that you are able to complete some of the education modules while the vetting process is ongoing, allowing for parallel completion, ensuring no barriers to accessing our education online. 

Once coaches have started the vetting process, they can then move forward to registering online to complete the FAI Safeguarding 1 course.

Once this is completed, the next step is the completion of the FAI First Aid course, which again is an online 45 minute tutorial with questions after each section of the course to complete before you move onto the next level.

Having this completed will then allow for the access to our entry level coaching courses, with all of the following below available now to complete online:

Amongst the courses that will be available on meandmylearning.ie are:

Me & My Ball.

Me & My Ball Skills.

Me & My Ball Teammates.

Me & My Position.

Me & My Club Goalkeeping Introduction.

For those interested, there are some courses happening in Cork in June and July.

College Corinthians are hosting a Mw & My Skills course on Tuesday, June 2nd from 6pm until 9pm.

Leeds are hosting a Me & My Ball course on Thursday, July 2nd from 6pm until 9pm.

College Corinthians are hosting a Me & My Teammates on Tuesday, July 21st from 6pm until 9pm.

The FAI Director of Football John Maher is eager to point out to all coaches that Safeguarding, Garda Vetting and First Aid modules are now mandatory for all coaches if they want to continue their Coach Development Pathway.

FAI Director of Football John Martin said: “It is essential that we provide modern, accessible ways for parents, coaches, and volunteers to learn and develop as they play a vital role in the delivery of Irish football. 

"That is why the launch of meandmylearning.ie is most welcome as it allows all coaches to complete the mandatory modules and progress, at their own pace, through the Coach Development Pathway.

“It is important to note that the Safeguarding 1, Garda Vetting and First Aid modules are now mandatory for all coaches to complete. 

"This is something that was highlighted in the FAI Education & Development Strategy as we look to utilise e-learning as an accessible method for compliance, development, and ease of access for learning.

"We will continue to add more on demand learning modules to this platform to put an even greater emphasis on informal development as part of the Me & My Learning series,” Martin added.

Head of Education & Development Cork native Niall O’Regan is doing tremendous work for the FAI and is looking forward to bring more courses and education to all the coaches.

“It is great to be in a position now to provide parents, volunteers and coaches at every stage of the game an opportunity for easily accessible, modern, holistic content, that can be used in their own environments", Niall said.

“The fact that it is easily accessible at the touch of a button on your phone, really ensures ease of access and support for everyone in the game. "This is only the start, with the team building out multiple other resources, from micro learning, short interactive e-learning courses around modern trends, position specific material and ensuring everyone has content that will help them challenge their players, in their clubs, with fun, dynamic and effective coaching practicals. 

"It's important to recognise the work that Craig Sexton and the wider FAI Coach Development team have done to get us to where we are and I am very excited to see the future content coming online and really using the platform to help coaches at every level of the game,” O’Regan added.

I personally think that the FAI coaching model is a correct one, fantastic to see and I wish them huge success with their plans for further education for their members, and a lot of different other sports should be following their example, however, it is very important that that coaches don’t lose the run of themselves when they go back coaching their own players after completing one of these coaching courses. 

Always remember that communication is key, every player is different and you can’t have the same rule for all your players. 

Some players need things explained to them a little more than others. 

Also, only do drills that are game related, there is no use doing drills that you won’t be using in games, or are too advanced for them, and it only confuses the players.

Remember to teach them what they need to know, not what you know.

Remember to always keep it simple.

And remember it is all about the players and their needs.