The SFA have conducted the basics of their coaching courses in a recent session at the Training Centre with both the under 18s and B sides to allow them to have the option to be role models to younger players in the Academy who could chose to follow in the same path.
Speaking about the course, Grassroots Coach Education and Development manager, Martyn Buckie, says the SFA are keen to get players involved more with coaching long term and is excited about the prospect of the partnership moving forward.
He said: “This is probably the first time we have ever done something like this on such a large scale. We have spoken to the education department at Rangers and they are very keen that we do something in terms of a long term programme for these players.
“We are going to start off with the introduction course, move them up to our certificate courses, our award level courses and potentially even put these players through their UEFA C license at some stage within the next year or so.
“There have been clubs across the country that have done one off courses but we are very excited to be working in partnership and do something on such a grand scale.”
Buckie has highlighted the importance of the players learning these skills at a young age and getting them set for their futures.
He added: “I think particularly for these groups here, working with a club like Rangers and this particular age group it is good for them to be prepared for the future, because we never know what the future hold.
“These players are getting best prepared as they can to be full time professionals, but it is great for them to be as well rounded as possible, for our purposes it is great to put them through qualifications such as these.
“It is also great to give them a bit of an insight as to what coaches do on a daily basis, in terms of structuring the training sessions that they put in place for them as well.”
Rangers Academy Education Executive, Carolanne Gay, has echoed the importance of giving the players as much of a further education as possible, and hopes they can be role models to the younger players breaking through at the academy.
She said: “At the club we are really keen and focused on dual careers for the boys, so we want to get them as much education as they can to take with them into their future life, and coaching is something that we are really passionate about getting them involved in.
“If their love for the sport they can then carry that on as role models and use it at the end of their career to get into coaching or go down a coach leadership pathway, coach other kids, then they are really good role models, so for them to bag that qualification and have that as a skillset is really important.”
“We have teamed up with the SFA in partnership to roll out this programme to all over 16 players and our women’s team, and we feel that it is really beneficial to the players going forward in their careers.
“We are hoping if we can carry this forward for younger players coming through the academy when they hit the age of 16 onwards that we will continue the partnership and they will be able to gain these qualifications and take them into later life as well.”