Expanding your knowledge of the science of coaching and developing your practice in line with the expectations of elite performance and player development.
The LMA & LCA Coach - Skill Acquisition Short Course is a 12-week, 6-module online programme focused on core aspects of skill acquisition principles and how to apply these to football coaching.
Delivered in partnership with
THE SUPPORT FROM THE LCA HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. THE WORKSHOPS OFFER THE TOOLS FOR ME TO USE EVERY DAY, BUT IT’S MORE THAN JUST RESOURCES; IT’S A REAL COMMUNITY THAT CHALLENGES US ALL AND KEEP US GROWING AS A COACH.
Henrique Hilario LCA Member
WELCOME.
The LMA and LCA recognises the fundamental role of coaching in the growth and development of the game at all levels. Elite coaching practice in England continues to evolve and is at the forefront of the game’s strategic approach to improving the standard of football in the domestic professional game and at the international level with England’s representative teams, at senior and junior levels.
Our mission is to provide the highest standard of guidance, expertise and resources, equipping our members to succeed at the elite level. In partnership with the St Mary’s University, the LMA & LCA Coach – Skill Acquisition Short Course represents a new approach to embedding learning and behaviour change within our coaching workforce, specifically around the key subject of skill acquisition.
The LMA and LCA are committed to providing access to vocationally relevant, expert-led programmes to both memberships, including coaches from all backgrounds, to continue to develop their understanding of truly excellent coaching and player development.
Richard Bevan OBE LMA Chief Executive
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW.
The LMA & LCA Coach - Skill Acquisition Short Course is a 12-week, 6-module online programme focused on core aspects of skill acquisition principles and how to apply these to football coaching.
The programme is intended to be:
ROLE RELEVANT
To the real-life challenges and pressures of managing and coaching in professional football.
ACCESSIBLE
Delivered face-to-face and online with the ability to catch up in your own time.
LMA LEARNING PRINCIPLES.
MORE THAN LECTURES
Using tasks and scenarios for participants to tackle between sessions.
CO-CREATED
Blending theory, expertise and research with unique LMA member insights and experiences.
CHALLENGING
Encouraging participants to adopt new ways of thinking and behaving.
WHO.
LMA / LCA members with a minimum of an up-todate, accredited UEFA B Licence.
WHEN.
Starting Wednesday 8th October 2025
DURATION.
12 weeks (6 x 20min pre-recorded lecturecasts followed by 6 x 90min fortnightly sessions)
TIME.
Online: 3pm - 4:30pm
WHERE.
All online
ACCREDITATION.
• Accredited by the English FA for 9 hours
• Accredited by the LMA Institute of Leadership and High Performance
• Participants with 100% engagement will receive an LMA Institute Certificate of Attendance
PRICE.
Funded by the LMA / LCA.
INVESTING IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IF YOU WANT TO GROW. DOING THAT WITH THE LCA HAS REALLY HELPED ME GROW AND BE A BETTER PERSON.
Rhys Denton LCA Member
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES.
The LMA & LCA Coach – Skill Acquisition Short Course is designed to equip coaches with a deeper understanding of how players develop skill within football and progress coaches along their career development journey in the following ways:
ENHANCE LEADERSHIP SELF-AWARENESS:
Participants will gain deeper insights into their strengths and areas for development, enabling more effective leadership practices.
DEVELOP VOCATIONALLY RELEVANT SKILLS:
Participants will acquire practical skills directly relevant and useable in elite team environments.
BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE
The consistency of learning over a 12-week process aims to embed a change in the established daily practices of coaches in their everyday environment.
STRUCTURED OWNERSHIP:
Participants will develop the ability to take structured control of their career growth, taking ownership of their personal and professional trajectory in a supportive environment.
THE LMA PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL.
The LMA & LCA Coach – Skill Acquisition Short Course is grounded in the Game pillar of the LMA’s Personal Development Model that provides a simple, holistic overview to the four pillars of personal development that are relevant to coaches and managers in professional football.
The model is underpinned by a blend of academic research and real-life LMA & LCA member experiences, and is aligned with the game’s collective Coach Excellence Framework.
YOU focuses on your personal and professional development, encompassing self-awareness and wellbeing. It emphasises the importance of building a strong foundation to sustain high performance and achieve your ambitions.
YOUR TEAM concentrates on your role and responsibilities as a leader, emphasising the importance of building, managing and inspiring a team for success. By understanding the dynamics of effective leadership and team dynamics, you can guide your team to consistently perform at their best and achieve its goals.
THE INDUSTRY explores the wider football landscape and its impact on your role as a football manager. By understanding these external factors, you can make informed decisions, adapt to changes and manage effectively in the dynamic environment of football.
THE GAME focuses on your technical knowledge of football and sporting performance and the framework that shapes this. This pillar equips you with the tools to enhance performance and drive success on the pitch.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE.
LMA & LCA Coach – Skill Acquisition Short Course will cover the following six modules:
MODULE 1: SKILL ACQUISITION FOUNDATIONS.
Lecturecast Released: 29th September
Zoom: 8th October
MODULE 2: SKILL IN FOOTBALL.
MODULE 3: SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN FOOTBALL.
Lecturecast Released: 11th October
Zoom: 22nd October
Lecturecast Released: 27th October
Zoom: 5th November
MODULE 4: PRACTICE DESIGN.
Lecturecast
Released: 10th November
Live Zoom: 19th November
MODULE 5: COACHING BEHAVIOUR.
MODULE 6: TRANSFORMATIVE CONCEPTS IN SKILL ACQUISITION.
Lecturecast
Released: 24th November Live Zoom: 3rd December
Lecturecast
Released: 8th December
Live Zoom: 17th December
Workbooks: Each work book will be released the day after the live zoom session
CPD ACCREDITATION:
Accredited hours towards UEFA Licence validation
The LMA & LCA Coach - Skill Acquisition Short Course is accredited for 9 hours CPD by the English FA. Attendance at live sessions and completed workbooks are required to gain relevant CPD hours.
MODULE 1:
SKILL ACQUISITION FOUNDATIONS.
Date: 8th October
INTRODUCTION:
This module introduces this short course and the sports science field of skill acquisition. It will outline how the field of skill acquisition contains concepts that can be applied to football coaching and player development, helping to optimise these key processes to improve outcomes
Subjects Covered:
• Course outline, processes and course tasks
• Skill acquisition as a sports science field and support role in sport
• Role of skill acquisition in coaching, player development, and culture process
Learning Outcomes:
• Apply acquired knowledge and tools to successfully complete the course
• Describe the field of skill acquisition and its uses
• Evaluate the application of the field and its concepts in football
MODULE 2:
SKILL IN FOOTBALL.
INTRODUCTION:
Date: 22nd October
Skill is an essential component of player performance at all levels of the game. This module explores key perceptual-cognitive skills that underpin superior performance and game intelligence in football, such as anticipation and decision making.
Subjects Covered:
• Perceptual-cognitive skills (Roca et al., 2013)
• Visual scanning (Jordet et al., 2020)
• Anticipation and decision making (Williams & Jackson, 2019)
• Understand the pivotal role of skill in player performance at various levels, exploring key components that contribute to superior game intelligence
SKILL DEVELOPMENT IN FOOTBALL. MODULE 3:
Date: 5th November
INTRODUCTION:
All professional players began playing the game in childhood. The football and sport activities they engage in and coaching they experienced in their youth are key factors leading to their expert performances in adulthood. This module will highlight the activities that professional players experienced in their youth and address some of the debates about youth activities.
Subjects Covered:
• Deliberate practice and play
• Specialization vs. diversification vs. engagement
• Practice design continuum for coaching sessions
• “Grow your own”: Environmental design in youth football
Learning Outcomes:
• Describe and apply theories and concepts on skill and expertise development to coaching and football players
• Evaluate rules, regulations and systems in relation to theories and concepts from skill acquisition
MODULE 4: PRACTICE DESIGN.
INTRODUCTION:
Date: 19th November
This module explores the pivotal role of effective practice design in coaching, discussing the importance of practice quality for enhanced learning and connecting this concept to notions of optimising challenge.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of effective practice design in coaching, encompassing the optimisation of challenge and the utilisation of a constraints-led approach
MODULE 5:
COACHING BEHAVIOUR.
INTRODUCTION:
Date: 3rd December
Coaches have a significant influence on skill acquisition, development and achievement of players at all ages. This module explores the role of coach behaviours, especially instruction and feedback, and coach knowledge on player outcomes.
Subjects Covered:
• Deliberate practice revisited; individualised feedback
• Coaching behaviours: Instruction and feedback
• Coach knowledge structures
Learning Outcomes:
• Describe and apply practical behavioural knowledge and tools to positively impact the development and achievement of players at all ages
• Evaluate your own coaching using coach behaviour theories and concepts
MODULE 6:
Date: 17th December
TRANSFORMATIVE CONCEPTS IN SKILL ACQUISITION.
INTRODUCTION:
Creative decision-making is a defining factor for high-performance players, enabling them to handle unique situations with ease and leaving opponents guessing about their next moves. This module examines the critical role of creative behaviour and considers how coaches might be able to develop this quality in their players.
• Differential Learning approach (Schöllhorn et al., 2012)
Learning Outcomes:
• Describe and apply how to foster creative behaviour and use practical strategies to develop this quality in players
APPLICATION.
To ensure equitable access, we welcome applications from all members who meet or exceed the following criteria:
LMA / LCA Member
Holds a valid UEFA B Licence or above
Demonstrate your commitment to development
COHORT.
LMA & LCA Coach is designed to accommodate a maximum cohort of 40 people.
SELECTION.
Participants who meet the entry requirements and apply within the application window will be accepted onto the short course
If course capacity is reached during the application window, all eligible participants will be entered into a random ballot
Unsuccessful applicants will be offered first refusal on the next available short course, provided they maintain active LMA / LCA membership
JAKE HENRY
Coach
jake.henry@leaguemanagers.com
ABOUT THE LMA & LCA.
Based at the National Football Centre, St George’s Park, the League Managers Association (LMA) and League Coaches Association (LCA) trace their history back to 1919.
The LMA has been operating in its current structure since 1992, whilst the LCA was formed in 2023 to enhance the holistic support available to coaches, analysts, scouts and technical directors throughout the game.
Our members : guide our programmes through their lived experience and commitment to the game
Game knowledge: through our unique role in football we know the game, its realities and its complexities
Other sports: we have extensive relationships with coaches and performance experts in other sports, always bringing new ideas and challenging our thinking.
Experts: we engage with many of the leading academics and industry experts in leadership, sports performance, wellbeing and personal development.
Our team: the LMA & LCA team is committed to our members, to continuous improvement and to exceptional delivery.
League Coaches Association, St. George’s Park, Newborough Road, Needwood, Burton upon Trent DE13 9PD 01283 576352 | leaguecoaches.com | LCA@leaguecoaches.com
