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🚑 Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF)



"Be the calm when it matters most."

In football, moments of magic happen on the pitch — but so can moments of crisis. The Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF) course gives coaches, volunteers, and support staff the confidence and knowledge to respond quickly, safely, and effectively when injury or illness strikes.

This is more than a qualification — it’s a critical life skill for anyone involved in the game.


⚽ Why First Aid Training Matters in Football


  • Football is a dynamic and physical sport — injuries happen

  • Immediate, confident response can prevent long-term harm

  • Coaches are often first responders before emergency services arrive

  • Protecting players is as important as developing them


“Being ready for emergencies shows that you care — on and off the pitch.”

📚 Course Overview: What You’ll Learn


🧠 1. The Role of the First Aider in Football


  • Understanding the responsibilities and limits of a first aider

  • Staying calm under pressure

  • Following the correct procedures in line with FA and emergency guidance


🎯 “Your number one job is to preserve life and prevent worsening.”

❤️ 2. How to Recognise and Respond to Medical Emergencies


  • Sudden cardiac arrest and CPR (including AED use)

  • Concussion management and the "If in doubt, sit them out" protocol

  • Asthma attacks, allergic reactions, seizures, and diabetic emergencies

  • Heatstroke, hypothermia, and serious injuries


🧯 “Preparation beats panic every time.”

🦵 3. Common Football-Related Injuries and Treatment


  • Sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations

  • Cuts, grazes, nosebleeds, bruises

  • How to apply basic wound care, immobilisation, and cold therapy


🏥 You’ll learn to assess, treat, and refer appropriately.


🧾 4. The Emergency Action Plan (EAP)


  • Why every club and coach should have a clear, rehearsed EAP

  • How to access emergency help quickly

  • The importance of accurate record-keeping and reporting


📞 “Know what to do, who to call, and how to communicate.”

🧑‍🏫 Course Format & Delivery


  • 🏫 Usually delivered in-person over 3 hours

  • 📍 Practical, hands-on training with football-specific context

  • ✅ Includes CPR demonstrations and real-scenario practice

  • 🧾 Certificate valid for 3 years


📣 This is not just a box-ticking course — it can save lives.


🧠 Skills That Stay With You


Completing the IFAiF course means you're:


✔ Confident in dealing with football emergencies

✔ Aware of risks and how to reduce them

✔ Able to keep calm and act quickly under pressure

✔ Trusted by parents, players, and peers


“First aid doesn’t make you a medic — it makes you a leader in moments that matter.”

🛡️ Welfare and Duty of Care


The IFAiF is aligned with the FA’s wider safeguarding framework, ensuring coaches contribute to safe, professional, and player-first environments. Your knowledge will:


  • Strengthen your safeguarding responsibility

  • Support your Emergency Action Plan

  • Build trust and accountability in your coaching role


🙌 “Great coaches don’t just teach technique — they protect wellbeing.”

🏁 In Summary


The Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF) course is a must-have for any coach, parent, or volunteer involved in the game. It gives you the tools to respond when every second counts, promoting safety, confidence, and care across your team and club.


🌍 Empowering Coaches to Lead and Care


Steve Halls is an FA qualified football coach offering consultancy, talent identification, mentoring and player representation in Cheshunt and the surrounding areas. In today’s connected world, Steve can offer his services to players, clubs, and organisations across the globe. With safeguarding, first aid, and development at the heart of his coaching ethos, Steve builds environments where players feel safe, supported, and ready to thrive — on and off the pitch.










🛡️ Safeguarding Adults in Football



“Respect. Protect. Empower.”

In today’s game, safeguarding isn’t just about children — it’s about every person in football, at every level. The FA / England Football Learning "Safeguarding Adults" course ensures coaches and club staff understand how to create safe, inclusive environments for all adults — particularly those who may be at risk of harm, exploitation, or neglect.


Whether you're working in grassroots, disability, or mental health football, this course is a crucial step in being a truly responsible and respectful coach.


🧠 Why Safeguarding Adults Matters


  • Many adult players face vulnerabilities (e.g., disabilities, mental health issues, or learning difficulties)

  • Coaches and club staff are often trusted figures — with that trust comes duty of care

  • A strong safeguarding culture protects both participants and staff


“Being a great coach starts with being a great human being.”

📚 Course Overview: What You’ll Learn


🧭 1. Understanding Safeguarding in the Adult Context


  • What safeguarding means for adult players

  • Who is considered an "adult at risk"

  • Common misconceptions about autonomy and consent


💡 Not all safeguarding is about protection — it's often about empowerment and respect.

🧩 2. Recognising Signs of Abuse and Neglect


  • Physical, emotional, psychological, financial, and sexual abuse

  • Discrimination, domestic abuse, institutional abuse

  • How to spot patterns and red flags without overstepping


🧠 “You don’t need to diagnose — you need to care enough to act.”

🔄 3. The Importance of Mental Capacity and Consent


  • Adults have a legal right to make their own decisions

  • Understanding mental capacity assessments

  • How to ask questions respectfully and involve the right people


⚖️ Balancing independence and intervention is key.

🗣️ 4. How to Respond and Report Safely


  • What to do if someone shares a concern

  • How to respond without causing distress or panic

  • Knowing when and how to report to safeguarding officers or authorities

  • Confidentiality vs. safety — understanding boundaries


📞 “You don’t have to fix it — but you do have to report it.”

🧑‍🏫 5. Creating an Inclusive and Safe Environment


  • Establishing clear codes of conduct

  • Encouraging open communication in your team

  • Ensuring accessibility and understanding for all players

  • Treating players as individuals, not just footballers


🏳️‍🌈 Inclusion isn’t an add-on. It’s part of your culture.

✅ Course Format & Delivery


  • 💻 Online delivery (self-paced)

  • 🕓 Takes around 45–60 minutes

  • ✅ Includes real-life scenarios and case studies

  • 🧾 Certification provided upon completion


This is not just a qualification — it's a responsibility every coach should take seriously.

🔑 Why This Qualification Sets You Apart


Having this certification means you're:


✔ Aware of the unique safeguarding needs of adult participants

✔ Equipped to take early, appropriate action

✔ Committed to building an inclusive football culture

✔ Trusted by players, clubs, and the wider footballing community


“The best coaches build environments where every adult feels safe, valued, and respected.”

⚽ Safeguarding in Practice: What It Looks Like


🗣️ Listening actively and checking in on players

📋 Making sure club policies include adult-specific safeguarding

👥 Working closely with Welfare Officers or Safeguarding Leads

🚪 Creating safe spaces on and off the pitch


It’s not about ticking a box — it’s about making a difference.

🏁 In Summary


The FA Safeguarding Adults course provides essential knowledge for all who work with adult participants. It helps ensure that football remains inclusive, safe, and enjoyable — no matter a player’s age, ability, or circumstance.


🌍 Putting People First in the Modern Game


Steve Halls is an FA qualified football coach offering consultancy, talent identification, mentoring and player representation in Cheshunt and the surrounding areas. In today’s connected world, Steve can offer his services to players, clubs, and organisations across the globe. With safeguarding and player welfare at the heart of his approach, Steve builds coaching environments that empower and protect — not just train.











🧠 Understanding the FA's Concussion Guidelines Course



"If in doubt, sit them out." – Protecting Players at Every Level

Concussion in football is no longer a fringe topic — it's central to player welfare. With rising awareness across all levels of the game, the FA / England Football Learning "Concussion Guidelines" course empowers coaches with the essential knowledge to identify, manage, and respond appropriately to head injuries.


Whether you're working in grassroots football or elite environments, understanding concussion protocols is a non-negotiable skill in the modern game.


🚨 Why This Course Matters


The course is designed around the urgent need to:


  • Protect players from long-term neurological harm

  • Equip coaches with clear, consistent guidance

  • Foster a safety-first culture in all football environments

  • Reinforce the message: "If in doubt, sit them out"


“We’re not just coaching footballers — we’re safeguarding lives.”

📚 Course Overview: What You’ll Learn


🧠 1. What is a Concussion?


  • The medical definition and football-specific examples

  • How even minor knocks can lead to serious outcomes

  • The invisible nature of concussion symptoms


👀 Key takeaway: Concussion isn’t always obvious — coaches must remain alert at all times.


⛑️ 2. Signs and Symptoms to Watch For


  • Physical: dizziness, headache, balance issues

  • Cognitive: confusion, memory loss, dazed expression

  • Emotional/Behavioral: irritability, sluggishness

  • Delayed symptoms: can appear minutes or hours later


“You don’t need to see a player collapse to take action.”

🧭 3. The Step-by-Step Concussion Protocol


  • Stop play immediately if a concussion is suspected

  • Remove the player from the pitch — no return the same day

  • Refer to medical professionals for assessment

  • Implement the "Return to Play" protocol (a 5-step staged process)


📆 Players must be symptom-free and cleared before resuming contact activity.


🗣️ 4. Communicating With Parents, Players, and Staff


  • How to calmly and clearly explain concussion risks

  • Ensuring informed consent before return to activity

  • Emphasising the importance of medical oversight


👨‍👩‍👧 This is especially vital at youth level, where coaches often serve as first responders and trusted figures.


⚖️ 5. Legal, Ethical and FA Guidelines


  • Why ignoring or mismanaging concussion risks legal liability

  • Your duty of care as a coach

  • Aligning with The FA's national guidelines and safeguarding framework


“Coaching is about development, but player safety must come first — always.”

🧑‍🏫 How the Course Is Delivered


  • ✅ Online and free to access

  • 🕐 Takes approximately 30 minutes to complete

  • 🎯 Interactive quizzes and real-world scenarios

  • 📜 Certificate awarded upon successful completion


💡 Perfect for any coach, parent, or volunteer working in football — from grassroots to academy.


⚽ Putting It Into Practice


Having completed this course, you're now equipped to:


✔ Recognise concussion signs immediately

✔ Act decisively and confidently

✔ Communicate with parents and professionals

✔ Keep players safe and supported during recovery

✔ Be a vocal advocate for a safety-first football culture


🧬 Concussion Awareness: A Core Coaching Skill


Player welfare is no longer a "nice to have" — it’s an essential part of your coaching toolkit. The Concussion Guidelines course ensures that your sessions, your team, and your club are aligned with modern safeguarding standards.


“The best coaches don’t just develop players — they protect them.”

🏁 In Summary


The FA Concussion Guidelines course provides a clear framework for recognising, responding to, and managing head injuries in football. Every coach should treat this knowledge as essential, not optional.


🌍 Supporting Players Beyond the Game


Steve Halls is an FA qualified football coach offering consultancy, talent identification, mentoring and player representation in Cheshunt and the surrounding areas. In today’s connected world, Steve can offer his services to players, clubs, and organisations across the globe. With safety at the heart of his coaching philosophy, Steve champions player welfare alongside technical excellence.











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