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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.










🧠 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.











🥇 UEFA A Licence – Coaching at the Highest Level



The UEFA A Licence is a gold standard coaching qualification. It prepares experienced coaches to operate in professional environments — whether that's at elite youth level, in senior men’s or women’s football, or at the very top of the non-league pyramid.


This course is about developing a footballing architect — someone who can build a complete playing model, lead performance programmes, and take full control of training, tactics, and culture across an entire squad.


"The UEFA A Licence isn’t about drills or exercises — it’s about designing a footballing identity."

📚 Course Summary at a Glance


  • 🧑‍🏫 Delivered through in-person blocks, online learning, mentoring, and in-situ club visits

  • 🧠 Deep focus on match analysis, team performance, and elite decision-making

  • 🕐 Approx. 180–200 hours of guided learning

  • ⚽ Coaches are assessed in live environments, with full teams

  • 🎓 Completion opens the door to UEFA Pro Licence and top-level jobs


🔍 Core Focus Areas of the UEFA A Licence


🎯 Developing and Managing a Full Team Strategy


At this level, you’re no longer just coaching — you're creating a style of play:


  • Construct a full team playing philosophy across all game phases

  • Integrate strategy with player roles, formations, and systems

  • Make real-time adjustments based on match demands


“The best coaches don’t react — they anticipate.”

⚙️ Tactical Periodisation & Performance Coaching


You’ll learn how to plan for performance over weeks and months, not just one game:


  • Periodise training blocks across the season

  • Balance physical and tactical loads

  • Manage recovery, performance peaks, and long-term development


📅 This is the level where season planning becomes central to your role.


🗣️ Leading High-Performing Teams


The UEFA A Licence sharpens your leadership tools:


  • Master high-level communication, feedback, and motivation

  • Navigate conflict, performance dips, and external pressure

  • Build a winning environment and culture within your squad


“At this level, players don’t just need a coach. They need a leader.”

📽️ Game Analysis, Scouting & Opposition Planning


Develop the ability to analyse and counter like a pro:


  • Use video, data, and observation to break down opposition

  • Identify patterns, threats, and opportunities pre-match

  • Adjust your strategy based on specific opponents


🧠 Scouting and match previews are no longer ‘add-ons’ — they’re daily tools.


🧬 Working with Units, Specialists, and Staff


The UEFA A Coach is a manager of people and processes:


  • Lead multi-disciplinary teams: physios, analysts, assistants

  • Deliver sessions that link units: defence, midfield, and attack

  • Delegate, manage staff workflow, and run coaching departments


“The modern coach doesn't work alone — they orchestrate a team behind the team.”

📝 Assessments and Expectations


This isn’t a badge you collect. You earn it by demonstrating sustained excellence:


  • 🏟️ Assessed during full training sessions and matchdays with your team

  • 🎥 Submit game footage and coaching reflections

  • 📈 Measured on impact, leadership, tactical insight, and delivery

  • 🤝 Strong mentor support and peer review throughout the course


🌍 Why UEFA A Matters


The UEFA A Licence proves that you can:


✅ Lead senior and elite youth teams

✅ Build a clear playing identity and deliver it week in, week out

✅ Manage tactical detail across opposition, fixtures, and formats

✅ Operate in highly competitive environments

✅ Drive results, development, and performance


This badge positions you as a top-level operator, ready to step into professional football with full confidence.


⚽ Experience That’s Been There, Done That


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. Whether you're grassroots or elite, UK-based or international, you’ll benefit from Steve’s insight, tactical knowledge, and ability to build pathways that truly develop talent.











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