The first ever FA Youth League Conference was hailed as a success this weekend as over 100 volunteers and representatives from youth set-ups across the nation shared their ideas and learnings at St. George’s Park.
After a full day of presentations and workshops on Saturday, there was a packed morning to follow on Sunday for the delegates to enjoy.
That started with the final workshops and Conference organiser and National League Development Manager Andrew Hailwood spoke to his group about how to structure plans to further develop their leagues.
One of the workshops at the FAYLC
Meanwhile, another group were taken through the use and improvement in technology over the last few years and how leagues have also been able to extend their effectiveness through smarter use of technology.
And Keith Pinder of the Hull Boys Football League, which has 450 teams from U17s to U18s level, told TheFA.com how much he had gained from the weekend.
"I’ve been asking for a few years to have this type of event and I was very excited to receive the invitation and it’s been everything, and more, that I expected," said Pinder.
"There’s a fantastic facility here at St. George’s Park to host it and the workshops have been fantastic.
"The networking has been great for me as well, it’s been good to speak to people from other leagues, who you perhaps only see on Twitter and Facebook and share ideas – that’s been fantastic.
"If anything, the one drawback has been the time constraints really.
League reps were taken through a Respect workshop at the FAYLC
"There are people here from places like Devon, so you can’t be leaving here at 5pm on Sunday, and I think every event could well have run over - that just shows the interest that there is from people."
Reps were then treated to three further sessions after that, with the untapped resource and benefits of young people and what they can do for leagues put forward by Durham FA’s Adam Panter and 20-year-old volunteer Adam Herzog.
Head of FA Learning Jamie Houchen then addressed the audience of the importance of coach education and the continued success and benefits of The FA Licensed Coaches’ Club, which is targeting a membership of 70,000 by 2017.
Safeguarding co-ordinator David Woodfine offered up explanation of how leagues can ensure their volunteers, coaches and referees are suitable for working with young people and how to best safeguard the players in those leagues.
And the day was rounded off by FA Learning consultant Alistair Smith, who gave an inspirational presentation on how to safeguard your own future, which gave further food for thought to all delegates ahead of their journey home.
Click here to download presentations from the Conference.
