The Player Development Programmes are for Grassroots footballers and focus on developing their individual abilities as a footballer and developing their game and a whole further. We do this through our coaching syllabus which focuses on developing the players brilliant basics as an individual and with a teammate developing their individual technical ability.
The Player Development Programmes are split into 3 TIERs. TIER 1, the beginning of our pathway is open to all grassroots players who are keen to develop their individual technical ability further. Our TIER 2 is trial basis only and focused on talented Grassroots player and supporting their individual development. Our TIER 3 programmes sit at the top of the pyramid and are for players who are performing at a consistently high level of technical competency, for their grassroots team.
Yes. All ETC players are registered as training only with The FA and will still be registered to play grassroots football. Part of the purpose of the ETC programme is to enable players to stay with their friends at their grassroots clubs for longer, therefore ETC players stay with their grassroots club for their time in the Centre.
No, players can only be registered at one Centre at any one time. For players already registered at another ETC and wishing to move to Watford, this can only be approved by The FA in exceptional circumstances. You would need to make it known that you are already registered to another centre, when first making contact with us.
Yes, as both of these are considered grassroots football organisations.
Talent ID events take place in the Summer for the following season. Register your interest for the next event via our website link. If successful at a Talent ID event, a direct invitation will be made to the adult who has registered the player for the event.
If spaces are available in the Centre at the relevant age group, then players can be considered outside of the Summer Talent ID sessions by registering interest using the waiting list link on our website. If successful at a Talent ID event, a direct invitation will be made to you.
All booking information will be provided when an invitation to join the ETC is sent.
Players will require shin pads, football boots with moulded (not metal) studs and water for every session. ETC training kit can be ordered free of charge by registered participants via a voucher code to Kelme UK’s website.
Friday 5:30-7pm. For 30 weeks of the year, excluding school holidays.
Each session is 90 minutes, which will include technical development and physical preparation activities.
There is a fixtures programme which runs during school holidays (Except Christmas). Oppositions are selected to provide different levels of challenge to players but include grassroots clubs, player development groups and other ETCs.
No, there are no direct costs for attending training or fixtures. A voucher code is provided for training kit, which is also worn for fixtures. Please note: travel expenses or any personal costs incurred to be part of the ETC cannot be paid.
Yes, but please follow our visitor rules to the TG at all times. These will be made available as part of the joining instructions and will also be covered at the parent induction at the start of each delivery year.
Every player will receive an individual update report at Christmas and again at the end of the season.
Trust qualified staff and safely recruited.
Our staff are all capable of responding to a disclosure or concern. We would draw attention to our safeguarding policy and our reporting procedures which can be found in the policies section of this website.
All players and families will receive a Trust safeguarding briefing as part of their ETC induction as well as receiving an ETC safeguarding reporting card which contains contact details for our Safeguarding team.
The ETC DSO (Designated Safeguarding Officer) is our Trust Safeguarding Manager Jenny Edwards.
Registered family members or carers will be invited to join a closed group using the Spond app. All regular communications from us will be shared via this channel.