Leicester City Host Online Coaching Event For Local Grassroots Coaches
- Grassroots coaches were given a unique opportunity into how Leicester City works
- Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the workshop was delivered virtually
- Twenty coaches from six different grassroots teamed joined in on the session
Last week, coaches from the Club's Academy, Leicester City in the Community - its charitable arm - and the Supporter Engagement department ran an invaluable coaching session.
With the on-going COVID-19 pandemic leading to Government guidance requesting everyone stay at home where possible, information had to be presented via a video conference call.
Pre-Academy & Lead Coach Coordinator, Mark Lyons, delivered a presentation detailing the Club's coaching philosophy and provided insights into how the Academy operates - in particular at the foundation phase development stage.
Participants were then invited to take part in a Q&A session with several Academy and Leicester City in the Community coaches.
For Lyons, it was a good opportunity to build bridges between the community and the Club's football and grassroots staff, who are continuing to offer support in new ways during the current situation.
“We are wanting to start to build better links with local grassroots club ahead of next season where LCFC Academy, Leicester City in the Community and Supporter Engagement will work together to put on a programme of events,” he said.
“The idea was to start to build links but also allow coaches to self-reflect and consider any changes they will make to their coaching when the restart eventually happens.
“It was also a chance for us to communicate and interact with new people, which is great for mental health and something I know I thoroughly enjoyed so hope others did.”
Twenty coaches from Quorn AFC, Leicester Nirvana, Oadby Owls, Medbourne Juniors, FC Burbage and Syston Town Juniors attended the evening.
The grassroots coaches got an insight in how the Club coaches and recruits players, while also exploring how they are keeping in touch with Academy players during lockdown, the importance of grassroots coaches for player development and session ideas and tips in limited training time.
Adam Martin, Community Sports Coach at Leicester City in the Community, highlighted how technology is preventing the situation from hindering the coaches’ experience.
“The event gave a small insight to grassroots coaches, into how we work as an academy from a recruitment and coaching point of view,” he said.
“Grassroots coaches also had opportunities to ask questions regarding the presentation and any other subjects relating to how we work.
“Although having the workshop was not ideal doing it through Microsoft Teams, there were no problems and the session ran smoothly.”
The Club are looking to run another event in the near future. For more information or if you wish to attend a future event or have any specific topics you’d like to see covered, please email Michael.Gilmore@lcfc.co.uk.