FOOTBALL: New course to offer young players the best of both worlds
Last updated 2nd Jun 2021
Budding young football stars who still want to pursue an academic future can finally dare to dream ...
That is because Irish Premiership side Ballymena United have teamed up with Northern Regional College to create an idea that offers teenagers the very best of both worlds.
The new BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development (Ballymena United Academy) will combine a professional football training programme with an accredited qualification, giving skilled players a unique opportunity to develop both on and off the field.
Christine Brown, Vice Principal for Teaching and Learning at Northern Regional College, said the partnership with Ballymena United would bring many opportunities for Academy players.
“The BTEC Extended Diploma is the equivalent of three A levels and focuses on development of employability in the areas of sports coaching, development or administration," she said. "It also provides a pathway to university to study for a sports related degree, for example, in sports psychology, coaching and management."
And Neil Beddow, Curriculum Area Manager for Sports at Northern Regional College added that the course was "specifically targeted at skilled footballers with aspirations to play at a semi-professional or professional level."
"The modules they will study have been selected to maximise their potential to play professionally or to pursue a career in coaching, football development or administration,” he said.
Welcoming the initiative to jointly develop the academic and footballing skills of young players, Ballymena United chair John Taggart said the club recognised the importance of developing young players without compromising academic achievement.
“We have a very good underage structure in place at Ballymena United. Many of our senior players joined as youngsters and subsequently progressed up through the ranks to play for the youth, men’s and women’s teams respectively as they got older.
“The future success of our club depends on being able to nurture talent and develop young players and the Academy will allow us to do just that,” he said.
Bryan McLaughlin, assistant coach with Ballymena United, who spearheaded the development of the Academy, said he was delighted to get it over the line.
“Academy players will get an immersive experience with a professional club and access to first class coaching and facilities," he said.
"They will be able to focus on developing their footballing skills but not at the expense of getting an academic qualification.
“Their training programme will include skills development and strength and conditioning sessions by Ballymena United and College staff to help accelerate their development as players and improve their performance on the field. This will open opportunities for them. For example, it could lead to a professional contract or help secure a sports scholarship to study and play football in the US,"
For further information on the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development (Ballymena United Academy), contact the course co-ordinator Julie Alexander at julie.alexander@nrc.ac.uk or visit the course web page.
Photo: Launching Northern Regional College’s new BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development (Ballymena United Academy) are: David Jeffrey, manager at Ballymena United; midfielder Leroy Millar; Christine Brown, Vice Principal of Teaching & Learning at Northern Regional College; defender Trai Hume and Philip Thompson, Director of Operations at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.