PREMIER LEAGUE

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT RULES
STAFF
Head of Academy Coaching
60. Each Club which operates an Academy shall employ a Head of Academy Coaching who shall:
60.1. report to the Academy Manager;
60.2. subject to Rule 54.6, have responsibility for delivery of the Academy’s Coaching Programme;
60.3. hold at least an up to date UEFA A Licence, an FA Youth Award, and an FA Advanced
Youth Award and, in the circumstances set out in Rule 56, an Academy Manager’s Licence;
60.4. have recent and relevant experience of coaching Academy Players in an Academy (or of
a comparable environment);
60.5. be employed Full Time (in the case of a Head of Academy Coaching employed in a
Category 1 or Category 2 Academy) or at least Part Time (in the case of a Category 3 or
Category 4 Academy).
61. The Head of Academy Coaching must attend:
61.1. at least five hours of in-service training to be provided by the Football Association each
year; and
61.2. at least once every three years the first aid training for Academy coaches provided by the
Football Association.
62. In addition to the in-service training referred to in Rule 61, the Head of Academy Coaching
must undertake Continued Professional Development organised by the Club.
Guidance
It is envisaged that the Head of Academy Coaching will replace the current role of Assistant Academy Manager, which
was formerly a requirement for Academies.
It is recommended (and mandatory in the circumstances set out in Rule 56) that the Head of Academy Coaching will be
a senior appointment in the Academy and a member of the Academy Management Team and sit on the Technical Board.
This section of the Rules should be read subject to Rule 44.
Coaches
63. Each Club which operates an Academy shall employ as a minimum the number of Full Time
coaches for each Development Phase in accordance with the Category of its Academy as set
out in the following table:
Foundation
Phase
Youth
Development
Phase
Category 1 2 2 2
Category 2 1 2 2
Category 3 1 1 2
Category 4 N/A N/A 2
Professional
Development
Phase
64. In addition to the coaches set out in Rule 63 each Club shall employ sufficient additional
coaching staff (Full Time or Part Time) to ensure that the coach to Academy Players ratios set
out in Rule 106 are maintained.
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