There are many academies and numerous youth leagues but the NPL Football Academy is the first to combine both. Welcome The Northern Premier League Football Academy (NPLFA), in conjunction with the Northern Premier League, is the first FA sanctioned league in the UK to have an Academy league combining football with further education. A concept no other programme of this type can provide. The programme includes studying for a BTEC Level 2 or BTEC Level 3 in Sport accompanied by a bespoke football programme which involves working with UEFA qualified coaches on a daily basis. The clubs also compete in the NPL Football Academy League and national competitions led by the prestigious and historic FA Youth Cup. The programme, based at the football club or associated facilities, sees the education delivered on site and runs alongside existing youth set-ups. This enables the best of each year s intake the opportunity to play in the first FA sanctioned league at a level that has a fantastic reputation throughout the football world, whilst gaining qualifications which could provide a passport to employment in the sporting industry. An initial pilot programme began in 2014/15 with students aged 16-18 at five clubs and has since seen a year on year growth of clubs, teams and students due to its unique concept. The programme will look to expand each year with 15-18 teams earmarked for the 2016-17 season and 18-22 teams in 2017/18 across the geography of the senior league. Northern Premier League Chairman Mark Harris said: We are proud to be leading the way again with the backing of the FA and the expertise of Eliteform behind the programme. There are many academies and numerous youth leagues but the NPL Football Academy is the first to combine both. The NPL Football Academy will create a pool of player talent for clubs to draw upon and benefit from directly as well as offering young people a fantastic path into the sporting industry through the qualifications and real life work experience our clubs can offer. He further added, Not every student will go on to have a career as a football player and together with greater community engagement for the clubs, they ll also be playing a vital role in introducing the next generation of administrators and volunteers into sport and we hope, Non-League football; especially the Northern Premier League. Eliteform director Darren Royle said We are extremely proud to be managing this excellent concept and unique partnership with the Northern Premier League and also to be partnering some of the top colleges and training providers in the country. Since the inception of the programme in September 2014 we have seen an incredible response and with the positive feedback already from the football and education world, it seems this programme can only go from strength to strength. It Is an exciting opportunity and the programme attracts students who are keen on sport, especially football and are drawn by the prospect of excellent coaching and the unique games programme we offer, whilst gaining qualifications that will lead them into a brighter future.
Our Education Programme We are dedicated to provide the best support for the student Education is the primary endpoint of the programme We will hold parent evenings so progression can be monitored on the education and football
Study The education aspect of the programme is delivered by experienced quality tutors provided by the college / private training providers. The only difference being instead of the education taking place in a classroom at the college it takes place at the football club or associated facilities providing a different kind of learning environment. Education is the primary endpoint of the programme and as such engagement in the training and playing of the football programme will be prohibited if the education is not up to standard. So what is involved? You will be based at the football club or associated facilities four days a week, where you will study for your chosen qualification in the morning, with training taking place in the afternoons, this may differ as it may be reversed with some education providers. Wednesday is match day for the students. As we progress you will also gain an insight into the sports industry through work experience at the club where you are enrolled, having opportunities to experience such areas as videoing matches, provide analysis, photograph matches, write previews and match reports for the club s website and local press, promote the club on social media, deal with match day administration, be a part of the corporate hospitality and contribute to the community side of the club. Student support We are dedicated to provide the best support for the student and along with the college / private training provider support team, each club will also have a welfare officer to help and guide any students who require support. There is also a league welfare officer. The college / private training provider can also assist in helping to obtain a bursary for families with low income to help with travel, food and other associated costs required for the course. Throughout the year we will hold parent evenings so progression can be monitored on the education and football aspects of the course. Code of conduct? There is a code of conduct booklet for the educational programme provided by the college / training provider that all students will receive (sign for) and be expected to follow. Level 2 in Sport Awarding Body: Pearson Award: Extended Certificate, Diploma Type: BTEC First Content: Learning about different aspects of the sports industry, including: Anatomy and physiology for sport / Planning and leading sports activities / Outdoor adventurous activities / Leading outdoor adventurous activities / Development of personal fitness / Technical skills and tactical awareness for sport etc Entry Requirements: Entry Level and GCSE s D-G. Course Assessment: You will be assessed in a variety of ways including assignments and practical tasks Programme Length: 1 year Pathways and Progression: Level 3 qualification / Apprenticeship / Employment. Maths & English: Students who have not achieved a C in Maths and/or English will have to re take the subjects at Functional Skills/GCSE level. UCAS Points: There are no UCAS points awarded for a Level 2 qualification Level 3 in Sport Awarding Body: Pearson Award: Diploma, Extended Diploma Type: BTEC National Content: Learning about different aspects of the sports industry including: Sports development / Sports coaching / Psychology for sports performance / Profiling sports performance / Principles of anatomy and physiology / The physiology of fitness / Practical team sport / Rules, regulations and officiating / Sports nutrition / Sport as a business / Assessing risk in sport / Sports injuries / Leadership in sport / Analysis of sports performance / Preparing to coach a range of sports activities / Organising sports events etc. Entry Requirements: Three GCSE s A-C with one preferably Maths or English, or a BTEC First Diploma (or equivalent) with a Merit grade. Course Assessment: You will be assessed in a variety of ways including assignments and practical tasks Programme Length: 2 years Pathways and Progression: The BTEC Level 3 Diploma and BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma are equivalent to two and three A Levels respectively enabling progression onto university, US scholarships, apprenticeships or employment. Maths & English: Students who have not achieved a C in Maths and/or English will have to re take the subjects at Functional Skills/GCSE level. UCAS Points: Up to 112 UCAS points available for the Diploma, 168 UCAS points are available for the Extended Diploma.
Why choose BTEC? BTECs are career-based qualifications designed to give you the skills you need to move on to higher education or go straight into employment. Progression Our students, on completion of their Level 3 qualification, are progressing onto higher education and securing scholarships in America. Here are three examples of some of our education graduates. A BTEC develops a range of practical knowledge and skills which help you to prepare for and progress in your chosen career. Classroom-style teaching combined with project work and practical, work-related activities help to develop a number of skills including teamwork, creative thinking and presentation skills, all of which are crucial for the workplace or Higher Education. Chosen by over 1 million learners every year, BTEC offers a range of professional qualifications for anyone taking their first steps into the world of work, progressing through their careers or planning to enter university. More employers and Higher Education institutions than ever before are choosing BTEC-qualified candidates for their academic and practical knowledge and skills. More than 100,000 BTEC students apply to Higher Education each year and make the university grade of which 95% of Higher Education institutions accept BTEC students. Following successful completion of your Level 2 you can move into a Level 3 cohort from which you can take the Diploma or Extended Diploma which are equivalent to two and three A levels respectively and accumulate UCAS points, the UK s tariff for applying for university. Aaron Hall Leek Town student Aaron Hall joined the NPL Football Academy in September 2014 and completed his Level 3 Extended Diploma qualification in Summer 2016; which earnt him a place at York St John University to study Sport Science and Injury Rehabilitation on a three year course. I ve had a great time on the NPL Football Academy at Leek Town over the last two years, it is a great programme. I would definitely recommend the programme to others in the area especially at the rate the programme is improving and the opportunities it can provide for young people in sport. Josh Craddock Josh, who completed his Level 3 Diploma at Belper Town in 2016, secured a four year scholarship at BYU Hawaii; where he has combined playing football with his Sport Science studies. I loved the Belper Town Academy, it was one of the best years of my life. I met some great people and learnt a lot on the course. The programme is fantastic and I would definitely recommend the NPL Football Academy to students who are just leaving school. Thank you to everyone at Belper and the NPLFA Corey Bulheller Matlock Town Academy student Corey Bulheller moved to the NPLFA to complete his Level 3 Extended Diploma after a spell at a local professional club. In 2016 he moved to Bacone College in Oklahoma where he is studying a major in Sports Management/Psychology. Having a career in sport is something I have always wanted to do. My ambition is to work at a professional football club in the future and i believe gaining a degree is the best way to do this. I have enjoyed my time with the NPL Football Academy after completing my first year as a scholar at a local professional club. It is a lot better organised as well as having a good league structure to help me progress in football by playing regularly and completing my education
We are the first dedicated football and education academy league in the country sanctioned by the FA. Our Football Programme Our football aspect of the programme with its unique match day experience is different to other football and education schemes.
Train Play Our games programme is both exciting and provides an experience on a regular basis not provided by any other programme. Being in an FA sanctioned league we will have a full set of officials for each game and 90% of fixtures will be played at the home ground of the club involved. The experience of playing on semi-professional grounds and the match day involvement is mirrored to the first team activities. You will represent the club as a squad in both league and cup competitions. All games are filmed and match highlights are shown online from every game each week and available for analysis with your coach in training Football Association. One of the main reasons the league has been sanctioned is our proposal to play 90% of all fixtures at the clubs main stadia. You will be playing your games in a graded non-league stadium as opposed to college / park pitches. When do the games take place? The majority of games will take place on a Wednesday afternoon; however, some games may take place in the evening under floodlights creating a new experience for many of our students. The football aspect of the programme is unique to any other football and education scheme. We are the first dedicated football and education academy league in the country, added to that it is the first to be sanctioned by the Football Association. The NPL Football Academy is similar to programmes that are in operation at colleges, independently run, at a local-hub centre or professional football trusts only in terms of the education. However, the reason this programme and concept has caught the imagination of those involved in the professional and semiprofessional game and a major difference to colleges, hubs etc is that all the students will be in a set squad representing their local semi-professional club in the league and national cups. Having an academy linked to the clubs has been seen as the way forward in helping develop both young players and further participation in football at this age range. Where will you train? Training will take place either at the football club or at a designated venue organised by the club. How many days will you train? You will train for three / four days a week. Who will be the coach? The club and the NPLFA will employ a UEFA qualified coach to train and manage the team. What will training involve? Throughout the programme you will work on technical ability, taking part in drills designed to improve your technique. You will also take part in a fitness programme to increase your overall fitness. To prepare for the games programme you will work on team shape and tactics. Can I continue to play with the club I am at? Of course you can. We actively encourage you to continue to play for your junior side at the weekend and hopefully by receiving regular coaching it will help you in your performances for the club you are playing for. Many of the clubs now involved are looking to introduce under 21 teams as a progression from the academy What competitions will I play in? You will play in the NPL Football Academy league; playing league games against other semi-professional clubs academies. You will play in the NPL Football Academy cup competition. You will also have opportunities to play in the FA Youth Cup, the national cup competition for all under 18s from the Premier League to Non-League. Where will the games take place? We are proud that the league has been sanctioned by the What kit is required? No kit is required. This is provided by the football club. What are the possible pathways? By being involved as part of the club, you will have an advantage over other local players in the area to impress the first team manager of the club you represent. If progressing well, information from the academy manager can lead to training with the first team and then the opportunity to play for the first team and play semi-professional football. Many clubs at this level also have contacts with feeder clubs to help you progress. Code of conduct? There is a code of conduct / rules booklet for the football programme that all students will receive (sign for) and be expected to follow. Our Training We are dedicated to provide the best coaching for the students involved in our football programme. With our links in the football world, which are continually growing, we are gaining access to some of the best coaching programmes and coaches. Unlike other programmes which may have general sports coaches our coaches will have to be a UEFA qualified football coach. Our coaches will have specialised in-house training and be mentored by ex-professionals who have progressed up the coaching ladder from the professional game. What kit do I wear? You will be required to wear a personalised training kit, this will be available to purchase similar to other football and education programmes although at a significantly much reduced cost. What happens if I fall behind in my studies? In order to train and be considered for selection, you will be required to keep up to date with your studies. This is a strict policy at the Northern Premier League Football Academy.
Progression Since 2014, over 25 students have progressed to their clubs senior first team and made their debuts at semi-professional level. The vast majority of these students are aged 16/17; which is an incredible achievement in such as tough environment. Here are two examples of some of our football graduates. Max Hunt Towering centre half Max Hunt became the NPL Football Academy s second professional graduate when he moved to Mansfield Town from Matlock Town Academy in July 2016 after Yohan Rutty Smith moved to Notts County in February 2015. I really loved my time at the Matlock Town Academy. I felt it brought me on leaps and bounds as a player and as a person. The professionalism of the club was fantastic and the coaches were a massive help in bringing me on as a player. I loved the training schedule and playing as much football as we did and the sessions we did were always creative and game relevant. The educational side was also enjoyable as it was interesting subjects and fun to be working with your friends every day. I would like to thank everyone at the NPLFA and Matlock for giving me the chance to progress and play senior football with the reserves and training with the first team which all really helped as it brought me on mentally and physically and showed a different side to the game. I would definitely recommended the NPL Football Academy to anyone wanting to progress in football because it is a great set up and has great pathways for people who want to succeed. Lewis Belgrave Mickleover Sports student Lewis Belgrave has had a meteoric rise during his time in the NPL Football Academy. The talented midfielder made his first team debut as a 16 year old in front of 500 spectators and in his second year as an Academy student became a permanent fixture in the senior set up. In October 2016 he made history when he lead the side to victory in the FA Trophy and became the youngest ever captain in the club s history at just 17 years old in a team full of experienced nonleague and ex football league players. I was told I was in the squad the day before by my coaches, I was nervous but they helped me fit in easily. It was a great experience, to make my debut so young felt amazing Experience We understand that 16/17 year olds don t always know what they want to do for a career at that age. By being part of a semi-professional club, all students will be able to gain experience in different areas of sport. Throughout their time on the programme, there will be opportunities for our students, if they enquire through their tutor/coach/area manager, to do the following: Video games and training Analyse games and training. Live and on Video Sports Photography: Taking photos of games, training and behind the scenes Social Media: Promote the club/academy online, generate interest, update match scores Journalism: Write match reports, previews, news stories, interviews Help out on match days: Stadium, kit, administration, hospitality for the first team and academy Coaching: If the club has a community scheme, experience can be gained on lots of activities Shadow first team staff: Manager, physiotherapist, kit man By experiencing all of these areas, a student may want to expand on experience they enjoyed for a career/hobby; which we will be able to guide them onto the next step (Higher Education, Employment, Work Experience) Students, as part of their enrichment, will also get opportunities to visit external sporting facilities; such as St George s Park.
Inter-League Squad An inter-league squad of players from each club are selected to represent the NPL Football Academy against professional clubs each year in a series of 2/3 fixtures. Selection is based on ability but all students must be up to date with their education to be eligible for the games. The showcase exhibition games are an opportunity for students to test themselves against professional academies. Games usually take place at the end of the football season in April/May but may be scheduled throughout the season. The inaugural game took place in May 2016 when a squad of 18 players defeated Oldham Athletic 2-0 at Radcliffe Borough FC.
Our Ambassadors Paul Scholes It is an excellent idea to embrace the educational courses with a football programme in a full time capacity. The education courses are such an important part of this package and will enable the students to focus in all areas of sport whilst obtaining qualifications. The level and expertise of the NPL Academy league structure is also very important and the way forward linking football academies with semi-professional football. Manchester United & England Legend. 3Steps to activate your ambition 1 Visit www.nplfa.co.uk Enter your personal details via the registration page on our site. Joe Royle Anything that combines education and sport for young people has to be applauded. Education is more important than ever in the modern world and physical fitness is so important for youngsters health and wellbeing. If, at the end of the course, an individual achieves further qualifications and gets the chance to move up to the first team - and that becomes a launch pad to even better things - then all well and good Former Manchester City, Everton & Oldham Athletic Manager. Craig Dawson The NPL was a big factor in helping me achieve my ambitions. Studying for a sports degree while playing at semi-professional level meant I could improve my education while developing as a player and this initiative can have the same impact. West Bromwich Albion What happens when I ve applied? Once we have your details on our database we can then invite you to an event at the NPL Football Academy club you registered for, such as an information evening or an open football session. 3 2 What s the next step after the event? You will have decided by then if you wish to further engage with the programme and if you do, we will keep in touch with you and continue to invite you down to the many different events that will be taking place at the club of your choice. We will then issue you with an offer letter and ask you to attend an interview. Once the GCSE results are revealed in August - subject to the grades you achieve and the outcome of your interview - you will be asked to come down to an enrolment day with the club and education providers before taking your place in the NPL Football Academy.
A FULL TIME EDUCATION AND FOOTBALL PROGRAMME 0161-246-6000 info@nplfa.co.uk www.nplfa.co.uk NPL Football Academy @NPLFA Pictures in this brochure kindly supplied by PG Sports Photography and Sam Shaw Photography.