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Professional football must better reflect modern Britain and The Premier League, Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and English Football League (EFL) are seeking to improve the diversity of football coaches in the professional game to make this area more representative.

As part of their commitment to improving diversity, they are jointly launching the BAME Player to Coach Scheme (BPCS)  to encourage, build and support the transition of under-represented BAME PFA members into football coaching in the professional game so that football at all levels better represents the wider communities in which it is played, enjoyed and serves.

Current landscape

The Scheme is open to those who identify as BAME (Black, Asian and non-white minority ethnic[1]), since these groups are underrepresented in football coaching within the professional game in England.

BAME populations are currently under-represented among Premier League and EFL First Team and Academy Coaches. One in five professional players are BAME (19%), compared to just 3% of First Team coaches. In total, 20 out of 493 senior coaching positions at professional clubs are held by BAME coaches; 4.1% of all positions of this kind.

What is the BAME Player to Coach Scheme?

To build-on current initiatives being delivered by stakeholders independently, a new joined-up initiative, involving the Premier League,  PFA, EFL, and EFL clubs will be introduced for the start of Season 2020/21.

The BPCS will provide a 23-month rotational work experience and development programme for up to six coaches. The programme will be a fully-integrated and intensive opportunity based in an EFL club designed to accelerate the candidates’ coaching knowledge and ability in order to better equip them for future full-time coaching work. Candidates invited onto the scheme, following successful application, will be expected to demonstrate extraordinary drive and resilience in order to reach a high standard across a range of skills and competencies tailored to the needs of the individual.

Objectives of the scheme

The scheme has several objectives including:

• To identify and develop BAME coaching role models.
• To support clubs who wish to progress their inclusion & diversity as well as recognising clubs who role model excellent inclusion & diversity practises in the treatment of coaches.
• To increase the number of BAME ex-players transitioning into full-time coaching positions in EFL clubs.
• To substantially improve employment prospects for coaches who complete the work-experience programme satisfactorily.
• To provide each of the coaches with their own development programme to ensure that each coach is appropriately trained and supported through the work experience.

The Scheme is open to those who identify as BAME (Black, Asian and non-white minority ethnic), since such groups are under-represented in football.

For candidate description click here.

How to apply

The Premier League, PFA and EFL will only consider applications from candidates from under-represented groups in football who identify as BAME, as defined above.

Successful candidates will be chosen based on merit as measured against person specification, set out above, for the scheme via a range of assessments.

To apply, please submit a written application in Word or as a PDF following these guidelines:

Please confirm that you match each of the criteria for the application using a brief application letter and CV.

Include a written reference(s) from a coach developer(s) and/or coach(es) describing your football coaching potential.

Include answers to the following questions (no more than 500 words per answer):

• Please explain why you would like to join this initiative and what you want to achieve during the work experience?
• What is it that appeals to you about being a full-time football coach? Please provide evidence to demonstrate your desire to be a full-time coach if you successfully complete this initiative.
• If you were successful in becoming a full-time coach after the work experience, what would you personally want to do to progress inclusion, diversity and coaching in English professional football?
• Please explain where you see yourself in ten years and why?

If you would like to be contacted regarding other development opportunities, please let them know in your application.

Please email your application and any queries to BPCS@premierleague.com.

Please email if you require any assistance in applying. The Premier League would support applications in other formats (video or audio) if required.

Next Stage

Short listed candidates will be invited to a virtual assessment centre held between 20 – 30 July 2020. They aim to advise all individuals the outcome of their application within two weeks of the closing date.

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