The Irish FA’s Coach Education department has introduced a new pathway for goalkeeping coaches.
The pathway aims to develop goalkeeping coaching from grassroots through to senior professional level.
Sean-Paul Murray, Head of Coach Education at the Irish FA, said: “The development and introduction of our first ever goalkeeping coaching pathway has provided courses for those working at grassroots level through to those working at senior professional level.
“This is an exciting challenge and we are looking forward to rolling out the courses across the country.
“Alongside the new pathway we have also developed and embedded goalkeeping modules within all UEFA outfield courses. We are confident that the combination of these developments will have a positive impact on the standard of goalkeeping coaching at all levels of the game within Northern Ireland.”
Former Northern Ireland goalkeeper Alan Mannus, who was appointed as the Irish FA’s Goalkeeping Coach Educator earlier this year, is keen to support goalkeeping coaches at all levels of the game within Northern Ireland.
This is an exciting challenge and we are looking forward to rolling out the courses across the country
He pointed out: “The new coaching pathway has been developed with the aim of helping to prepare coaches working with goalkeepers at grassroots up to senior international level, with the goal of increasing goalkeeper participation, progression and performance.
“Each course has a specific focus on coaching goalkeepers of a certain age and development level. Our new Irish FA goalkeeping coach framework will provide coaches with the appropriate knowledge, experience and ability to facilitate the development of goalkeepers.”
The pathway begins with a grassroots introduction award aimed at goalkeeping coaches working with keepers aged up to 10.
It’s followed by a Goalkeeping National Coaching Certificate (NCC) for beginner coaches who coach keepers aged 10 to 15 and an Irish FA Goalkeeping Coaching C Diploma for intermediate level coaches who work with keepers aged 16 and above.
The UEFA Goalkeeping B Diploma has been added for advanced coaches operating at club academy to first team level, while the UEFA Goalkeeping A Diploma is for high level advanced coaches working with keepers at first team club and international level.
