There will be two cards available, the first being a National Green Card which a coach will have to renew on an annual basis and the coach will benefit from the following from having the Card:

A)      Access to session plans on a monthly basis

B)      Eligible to release session plans and material on the FAI Coach Education Web Page

C)       Discounted Rates of attendance to coaching conferences and CPD events

D)      Access to discounted session planning software

E)       Access to discounted HUDL Performance Analysis Software

F)       Coaches will receive a monthly coach education magazine

The second card will be for UEFA Licence holders, these cards will only be released once a coach has secured and has a valid National Green Card. This UEFA Card (blue) will be provided with the validity of the coaches licence on it, usually a three year period once the coach has up to date cpd completed.

Speaking at the announcement, FAI Coach Education Manager Niall O’Regan welcomed the new development.

“The Coach ID card is a great initiative to allow us as the governing body to know exactly who is coaching, where they are coaching and to ensure that these coaches are aware of their roles and responsibilities in terms of Garda Vetting and Child Welfare and coach education. The aim of the cards is to have every coach in Association Football within the FAI with the Coach ID Card by January 2019.”

The application is live on https://www.ageofimages.com/fai-coaches-card.html and there will be pop up stations at FAI Coach Education events around the country where coaches can attend and get their photo taken and register for the card there and then.