Football Academy Level 3 National Diploma in Sports Coaching & Development

The Skills for Sport and Active Leisure – Football Academy Level 3 Diploma supports you to combine full‑time football training with post‑16 education, developing both your sporting performance and understanding of the sport industry. It is suitable if you are aged 16–19 and want a programme that balances academic study with competitive football development. 

As part of the Football Academy, you will train three times per week and compete regularly, including match play within the National League U19 Alliance, Essex Schools U19 league and various cup competitions and tournaments. Training and competition are delivered across four full‑time days, helping you experience the physical, technical and tactical demands of football at an advanced level. You will study a Level 3 sport qualification that develops knowledge of the sports and active leisure industry alongside your football programme. 

In the first year, learning focuses on careers in sport, health and wellbeing, and developing coaching skills. In the second year, you will build a deeper understanding of anatomy and physiology in sport, applied sports coaching, sports development, and self‑employment within sports and physical activity. The Football Academy works in collaboration with Concord Rangers Football Club, giving you access to a range of enrichment opportunities. These may include guest speakers, work experience, American scholarship pathways, and free entry to Concord Rangers home league fixtures. Your football development is supported by qualified coaches who help you improve technique, performance and match awareness. 

By the end of the course, you will have developed strong football performance skills, sport‑related knowledge and transferable qualities such as discipline, teamwork and leadership. This qualification supports progression into higher education, apprenticeships, coaching pathways or continued development within the sport and active leisure industry.