Developing Success of Powerchair Football

England Football Learning has hosted its first ever Powerchair specific continued professional development (CPD) event.

Coaches from across the country came together for the Powerchair CPD event at St. George’s Park, ahead of one of England’s Powerchair games against the USA, part of a series of friendlies as the team prep for the European Championships this summer (September 17-25).

The day kicked off with a talk from England powerchair Head Coach Adam McEvoy, England Powerchair Team Manager Craig Peattie, and former England Powerchair international Dave Lewis.

Various classroom-based sessions also took place, touching on England Powerchair player characteristics, team characteristics, Powerchair styles of play and peer-to-peer learning on how coaches can develop Powerchair players.

In addition to classroom-based learning, the group had the incredible opportunity to observe the England Powerchair team in training, hearing from the England coaches again and watching the team tactics and discussion points play out in practice.

“We’re hugely excited to have hosted the first Para-specific coaching CPD event,” said Ryan Davies, Senior Lead Para Performance Coach Development.

“There were three key objectives around the day; the first is that at England Football Learning, we want to create really personalised experiences and resources for coaches and change the narrative around Parafootball by offering Para-specific coach CPD opportunities.

“We also wanted to use the day to raise the profile of the England Para teams and showcase the incredible professionalism and elite level of the Para teams at St. George’s Park.

“Another aim was to really open up opportunities to get involved in Para-football, we don’t want it to sit separately to everything else, we want it to be integrated into the football coaching landscape, and we want to attract the best coaches who see Para football as a destination that they want to get to.”

Powerchair football is just one of seven England Para teams, which also include blind men’s, blind women’s, partially sighted men’s, deaf men’s, deaf women’s and cerebral palsy teams. All are based out of St. George’s Park, the home of the England teams.

To find out more visit https://www.englandfootball.com/england/para