The FA and McDonald's Community Coaching Programme
McDonald's involvement with community football in the UK began in 1995 with the sponsorship of The FA Premier League and each of the Premier League clubs, with the focus on helping to make football grounds more appealing places for families.
This was realised through local partnerships with clubs in the shape of family areas, junior supporters, football kits, youth leagues, tournaments, roadshows, equipment, reclamation, matchday experiences and birthday parties.
The emphasis today has evolved into a greater focus on grassroots and communities, to continually enhance the McDonald's brand experience through consistent local social responsibility across the whole country/region: involving all restaurants and communities, and being more relevant to people's everyday lives.
The culmination of this commitment from McDonald's came in April 2002 when it became the 'Community Partner' of The FA with a commitment to the creation of 8,000 additional coaches for grassroots football by 2006.
The FA Community Coaching Programme in partnership with McDonald's is a national football coaching initiative. The FA will train and deploy 8,000 coaches over a 4-year period to develop and expand the community football infrastructure throughout the country. Prospective coaches will be recruited by County Football Associations from amongst the local footballing community and by McDonald's amongst its staff nationwide.
Individuals that meet specific FA criteria and successfully complete the Level 1 course will be deployed by the County Football Association within their coaching and development schemes.
Candidates participating in the scheme will undertake the course, which lasts for up to 35 hours and will be available at FA designated locations in England.
The deployment may include working with specific clubs, teams, schools, youth groups or special needs groups. Specific activities within these organisations may include:
- Implementing regular football coaching activity
- Improving coaching standards within a club or school with the goal of achieving an appropriate level of FA Charter Standard Status
- Coaching Disability Football schemes
- Coaching and assisting schools with an after school football activity
Each successful candidate will make a commitment of, on average, three hours per week (including travel) for the first 12 months of his or her respective tasks.
On completion of the course, all successful candidates will:
- Receive a Coaching Programme certificate, plus a Child Protection certificate and First Aid certificate
- Be assigned to a club, team, school, youth group or special needs group in the local football community
- Receive their coaches' kit and football equipment bag provided by McDonald's
In addition to the above, all FA and McDonald's coaches will be given access to a bespoke McDonald's Coaching Microsite, providing tools and resources to assist them in their football development.
McDonald's is also the presenting partner of The FA Community Shield. All recently qualified McDonald's FA coaches will be invited to attend this showcase event, where the contribution of tens of thousands of football volunteers is recognised.
