Transforming Communities: The Journeys of Four Female Coaches Shaping the Future of Football

Our Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development offers a variety of exciting career paths within the football industry. We work closely with our partners, the University of South Wales, to ensure that students have the very best learning experience.

All lectures, seminars, and tutorials are delivered in a supportive environment and our tutors dedicate a great deal of support to each student.

Alongside the academic element of the course, students complete up to 200 hours of voluntary coaching within the community, working with Cardiff City FC Foundation and Cardiff City FC Academy staff to develop their experiences in real life settings.

Meet Grace Evans, Kiera Allen, Grace Snell and Naomi Rockey, who are currently studying on the Foundation Degree at the Community Foundation. Below, they candidly share their journeys, highlighting the challenges they've faced, the lessons they've learned, and the dreams they're chasing.

Each of them brings a difference perspective and set of experiences to the table, united by their passion for football and commitment to coaching.

Grace E:

My name is Grace Evans, I’m 19 years old and I’m studying on The Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development. The areas I like most about coaching are being able to have an impact on a young person’s development in football.

I play football for Cardiff City Women under 19s squad – so as a female coach and player, I like being able to see more young females coming into the game and helping them develop. Since starting in coaching, it’s been interesting to become a female role model to other girls enjoying the game.

While studying this course, I’ve been able to experience taking a lead in soccer schools and planning football festivals. As well as this, through studying different modules such as sports science – this has helped to improve and develop my football knowledge.

Looking forward, I want to gain more experience and opportunities within the Community Foundation. One day I hope to get involved with the FAW and help influence more young girls and women to get involved with football.

Kiera:

My name is Keira Allen and I’m 21 years old. I’m currently studying the final year in USW. One of the things I like most about coaching is helping develop the younger generation to bring more females and males participants into football.

The football team I’m currently coaching are the Gwaelod Rangers under 12s, which is my younger sister’s team. What I like most about this is having the opportunity to develop my younger sister and her seeing the impact this is having on her and the team. I feel like I’ve gained enough skills, confidence, and experience from within the Community Foundation to lead on this.

Over the past three years of studying at the Community Foundation, I have focused on a variety of different modules such a Sports Science, Sport Development, Project operations and Event management. This has given me a greater understanding of football development and the impact this can have in communities.

I will be the first person in my family to get a degree, which is a massive personal achievement for me. Looking into the future, as I’m going to graduate in July, I want to continue building my sisters team and potentially apply for a master’s degree in sports coaching.

My name is Grace Snell and I’m 19 years old. I’m currently studying community football coaching at Cardiff City FC Community Foundation. What I enjoy most about being a football coach is that I’ve had the opportunity to help disadvantaged children in deprived areas – helping to get them off the streets and into sport.

Since the pandemic, I have worked with Sports Caerphilly as a multi-sports coach to help engage with young people who now struggle attending school and staying focussed – using football as a tool. This has had a positive impact on the children and has been a massive achievement for us as coaches, ensuring that they are getting on the right track and getting the sport environment that they deserve.

Through the Community Foundation, I’ve also had opportunities to work at St Cenydd Comprehensive School to connect with students who are struggling with mainstream education – that my coaching degree has set the foundation for.

Once I’ve finished my studies at the Community Foundation. I will be aiming to apply for a PGCE in Physical Education with hopes to become a PE teacher or Learning Support Assistance at a school.

My name is Naomi Rocky and I’m 18 years old and I’m studying on The Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development. Back in high school, I have had some setbacks academically where my dyslexia had not been picked up. With the support from University of South Wales, I now have a support plan in place.

I now have a sense of confidence knowing that it was a disability that affected all my marks prior – and not because I was not capable. My writing and spelling have improved, along with my practical ability – which is going to help me go on to achieve the goals I have set, academically as well as in my coaching.

We have recently been working with Ninian Park Primary School which is located close to Cardiff City Stadium and the pupils have been coming over to the House of Sport. We have been working on an 8-week programme with year groups that focuses on developing their fundamental skills alongside the football skills. Each session had around 50 children attending which has helped with improving my social skills, required as a coach. The sessions have enhanced the children’s wellbeing and it’s been rewarding to receive positive feedback from both the pupils and teachers.

In the future, I’d love to study a master’s degree and coach more in the future - whether this is becoming a personal trainer or football coach.

As you can see, the Foundation Degree not only opens doors to exciting career paths in the football industry but also provides a comprehensive and supportive learning experience.

Insights from students like Grace E, Kiera, Grace S and Naomi represent the transformative impact of personalised teaching and hands-on coaching, for both personal and professional growth in the world of football.

Although the UCAS Deadline has now passed, we can still help you apply directly to University of South Wales for 2024 entry. Learn more here!

Together, we're changing the game.