*UEFA PRO LICENSE*

The Premier League has given Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate special dispensation to continue at the Riverside despite not possessing an Uefa Pro Licence.

The qualification is mandatory in order to manage in the top divisions in many other European countries including Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

But what exactly is a Pro Licence and is it actually relevant to what a Premier League manager does day-to-day?


WHAT IS A PRO LICENCE?
The Uefa Pro Coaching Licence is aimed at Europe's elite band of coaches but it is actually more about management than coaching itself.

The Uefa 'A' Licence, a step below the Pro Licence, covers matters more suited to the football pitch.

That takes at least a year and encompasses 180 hours but Uefa guidelines suggest that coaches should have a further year's experience before progressing.

HOW QUALIFIED IS THE PREMIERSHIP?
-Arsene Wenger (ARS) - Pro Lic
-Martin O'Neill (AV) - FA Dip
-Mark Hughes (BLA) - Pro Lic
-Sam Allardyce (BOL) - Pro Lic
-Les Reed (CHA) - Pro Lic
-Jose Mourinho (CHE) - Pro Lic
-David Moyes (EVE) - Pro Lic
-Chris Coleman (FUL) - Pro Lic*
-Rafa Benitez (LIV) - Pro Lic
-Sir Alex Ferguson (MU) - FA Dip
-Stuart Pearce (MC) - Pro Lic
-Gareth Southgate (MID) - B Lic*
-Glenn Roeder (NEW) - Pro Lic*
-Harry Redknapp (POR) - FA Dip
-Steve Coppell (REA) - FA Dip
-Neil Warnock (SHU) - FA Dip
-Martin Jol (TOT) - Pro Lic
-Adrian Boothroyd (WAT) - Pro Lic
-Alan Pardew (WH) - Pro Lic
-Paul Jewell (WIG) - FA Dip#
*denotes currently taking qualification; #denotes taken one-off course to pass diploma
The Premier League only signed up to Uefa's coaching rules in 2003 and English football has been playing catch up since.

The result is that, as well as the major European footballing nations, the likes of the Czech Republic now has more coaches with the A Licence and Pro Licence than this country.

Coaches on the continent tend to do the Pro Licence before they manage in their respective top divisions but in England the FA has had to tailor the qualification to suit managers already plying their trade in the Premiership.

Recent graduates include Bolton's Sam Allardyce and Manchester City's Stuart Pearce but the course also suits assistants such as Blackburn's Mark Bowen and coaches who aspire to work in the top division.

While an increasing number of British coaches have now passed the Pro Licence, the more established coaches have been awarded an FA coaching diploma to recognise their experience. (see table above)

Any coach hoping to manage in the Premiership after 2010 must have the Pro Licence.


WHAT DOES THE COURSE CONSIST OF?
The qualification takes a year to complete and consists of a minimum of 240 hours, of which 90 hours are practical, and is aimed at dealing with situations familiar to fans of the Premiership.

Modules such as handling top-class players, using the latest technology, analysing opponents' strengths and weaknesses and dealing with player's problems on and off the pitch are all covered in the course.

To pass the coach has to prove that he or she is competent in the following areas:

-How to plan and evaluate your team's strategic season programme
-How to succeed in one key fixture during the season
-Improving the performance of one key player
-Improving your own interpersonal skills
-Building upon your existing coaching skills with specific emphasis

While there are residential weeks, a lot of the work is done by the coaches within their clubs.
The bonus for the coaches is that they will be coaching nearly every day anyway so in effect they will complete many more hours than the 240 required.


HOW IS IT STRUCTURED?
As well as covering a wide range of topics, there are three meaty projects that the coaches must complete: handling professional players, match-related training methods and analysis of a key fixture.

It all begins in June at Warwick University with a 10-day residential where there are guest speakers, workshops and practical tasks.

Practical topics are specific to the extent where a coach might be put in a situation where he or she is in charge of Tottenham Hotspur facing the second leg of a Uefa Cup tie against Russian opposition.

Alongside two colleagues, the coach would then prepare for the fixture and deal with different scenarios within the game such as sendings off or injuries.

The reality for most coaches is that from August to December they are based at their clubs and while the course is tailored to fit in with their day-to-day duties, the modules actually complement the challenges they face.

Some of the modules are completed via conference call tutorials and, with more football-related areas, the coaches will use the players at their club.

PRO LICENCE MODULES
-Handling professional players
-Styles of play
-Key game analysis
-Mental preparation
-Sports medicine
-Specialist training
-Game related training
-Fitness and conditioning
-The media and technology
-Ethics and code of conduct
-Business management
-Club structure
-Contracts and agents
-Planning including rest and recovery
-Study visits
-Practical work and problem solving

In January there is another two-day residential which has in the past had guest speakers such as Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello. Past and present England managers also attend this gathering.

Later in the year, the coaches will again gather over the phone to cover topics on sports medicine, goalkeeping, fitness and conditioning, and business management.

The last project is for a key fixture and takes place in the second half of the season featuring a particularly tough match such as a top of the table clash or an FA Cup tie.

For this, the coach will have to create a file using scouting reports, opposition video analysis and training methods used in preparation for the fixture. Following the match, the coach will review the preparation and the match with FA technical staff.

Also incorporated into the course is a study visit which consists of a trip to a European club, such as Real Madrid or Inter Milan, to get a technical and structural overview of the club.

At the final residential in June the coaches will provide a debrief of the study visit and finish with modules on pre-season and fitness testing ready for the new season.

While the course takes a year to complete, it is fully flexible to allow coaches to pick up modules the following year.

England head coach Steve McClaren is one of the candidates who chose this option and he took 18 months to complete the course.

after reading this i fail to see your point!

was that just a lecture to the other coaches or is there something you dont understand or need to know!

also if your gonna copy all the information in your post from the BBC and paste it into the forum then why not just add a link, its much easier!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6189330.stm

Well i enjoyed reading it, good to see what it consists of, Thanks

Thank you. I thought if would be useful because im doing a mini report on it at school.

I thought it was useful as well, it also helps other people on here understand the structure in higher coaching. Why dont ya take ur head outta ur arse for a minute and think!

well ...it would have been better if Ashliano had explained why he posted the info, as `cshipley` mentioned the info was copied word for word from the BBC website , we can all copy info from websites and post it ....if no explanation is given then what are we supposed to think , Ashliano has now explained it was because of a school report ... now we understand ..

What does it matter that it was copied word for word?

"if no explanation is given then what are we supposed to think"
Why do you feel people need to explain there reasons for posting information that we can learning something about which in this case was the Pro license.

Now from my previous 4 lines it gets tedious doesnt it. The guy was just giving the information out because not many people know about the pro license and what it consists of.
Even in 2006 there's still people that are willing to share info and want to help other people out.

i myself never said there was anything wrong with posting `word for word` i was just saying that we can all copy information from sites ..the thing i was trying to get across is `what is the point of posting information without explaining why . I could post something from the Wikipedia website about `the history of the ashes` ... or `the first moon landing` ..why though .

If members want to start topics all i ask is for them to explain why , Ashliani has now done that and everything is fine .... otherwise you get comments like `thanks for that` or `great , is this supposed to mean something` .

It was an interesting post and gives you an insight into how it all works .

Yeah, but WHAT about the cost??. Unless you are employed by a top club, the Pro Licence will set you back several thousand pounds (yes it does)

I didnt realise why it was posted, so i enquired as to what the reason was!
Furthermore, i offered to help the guy by clarifying anything he didnt understand!



erm i dont know what to say!

I only explained an easier way to share this information.


If you had actually took your own advice you would see that my comments were actually constructive!


I think you will find as one of the more senior, qualified and experienced coaches on this forum, I have spent most of my time on here helping out young coaches with help, advice, useful contacts, reality checks and tips to improving as a coach!

Did you REALLY have to play the "experienced card" ???
Yeah, you work at the Villa. As the song goes...."that dont impress me much"
I currently for work for a Premiership club and have worked for a few other Prem clubs too, but why let comments from less experienced coaches worry you?. They dont worry me. I still help where I can and offer advice when asked for, and yes, I do get comments that make me laugh NOT mad.
If you were really comfortable about yourself then you know you wouldnt need to advertise.

I just remember the old days when I muddled my way through coaching sessions, pretending I was a great coach when I knew Jack [beep!]. But now I am comfortable that I am using my experience to help players achieve their dreams.

I'm not here to impress anyone, just try and help people out and discuss any relevant coaching issues!
As for advertising, i never mention my job or employer without anyone asking me first! If you hadn't already noticed from your research, I already have a job, so no need to advertise!

Thanks for that, well advertised although it don't impress me much either!

Moving on . . .
The facts still remain however; regardless of how you feel I should or shouldn't describe it, i feel i am in a position to help people, because YES I have experience and I frequently use it to help people! Why should I be ashamed of my CV and career? I have worked damn hard for everything I have and I hope many people in the light of this will work equally hard to achieve their goals in life!

Fellow coaches, work tirelessly, study hard, learn as much as you can and when you achieve the success you deserve be very proud of your achievements and dont let ANYONE put you or your dreams down!

Mate, I am experienced just not at a high level so am realistic and got a level head!

VERY sensitive for an experienced coach arent you??
Maybe NOW you have some idea how you come across to your players.
First, I WASNT criticizing you,
Second, I WASNT advertising, just pointing out that there are other experienced coaches who frequent this and OTHER coaching forums and none of them need to express what they've done. Its the PLAYERS who will judge you NOT fellow coaches.

Just be grateful that you have been through all the crap to be where you are now and be happy that we are merely telling new coaches where to tread so they dont walk into the crap too !!

All on the same side here you know mate

regardless of how "sensitive", "experienced", tall, short, fat, thin, black or white I am, I am not willing for people to insult me and then just sit back and accept it. I am certainly not happy for someone to suggest the way a few words appear on a computer screen has any correlation to my coaching manner. All academy coaches know that the most important attribute is approachability.

Also if you would like to read back a few posts you will see that i never mentioned what I had done, merely that i have coaching experience! You my friend however mentioned the premiership clubs!

I think if you look through your previous posts on other matters you mention Aston Villa and Leicester Youth several times.

Even now in your response you use the term "All academy coaches know that the most important attribute is approachability." as though no coach outside of an academy would ever know such a thing.

There are hundreds of coaches out there with loads of experience who are making a difference day to day to many players, just because they are not in an academy or able to coach full time doesn't mean they are any less than you.

Just for the record I have seen Kev help many people on here and other forums and he gives the most honest straightforward and knowledgeable advice possible, I would not hesitate to ask him first for any advice. Maybe you should get rid of that chip off your shoulder and re-read what Kev said to you.....it's called stop digging and throw the spade out.

Oh NOW you come out and watch my back Robbo
Thanks anyway, but I'm sure us 'academy coaches' (oooops freudian slip there), have the capabilities to be 'approachable'.
What d'ya say Ships????.
THOSE THAT CAN PLAY, PLAY
THOSE THAT CAN'T PLAY, COACH
THOSE THAT CAN'T DO EITHER, CRITICIZE
THEN THERE ARE THOSE THAT THINK THEY CAN PLAY BUT CAN'T,
THOSE THAT THINK THEY CAN COACH BUT CAN'T
AND THOSE WHO THINK THEY CAN CRITICIZE BUT CAN'T
THE LAST THREE ARE CALLED NORMAL SUPPORTERS
MANAGERS ARE WHATS LEFT

I give up!

even when i try and meet you half way you respond by analysing my posts (past and present) for some sort of blip that was written by me meaning one thing and interpreted by you as another!
Then the classic insults to go with it about chips on shoulders!

Hey Kev, has Shipley sent you one of his nice PM's like this one to me?:

"im sorry was I talking to you?

no didnt think so!"

You were right Kev, he is VERY sensitive.