academy

Game-Changing Coaching Programme

Casagrande Coaching Academy is a pioneering not-for-profit, registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC). We are dedicated to building a female-centric coaching culture that serves both coaches and the communities they work in.

The Academy is a female-centric football coaching programme designed for early-career performance and technical coaches- whether you're delivering physical preparation, team training, or player development-or transitioning from the men’s to the women’s game.

The 10-month pilot programme is partnering with five UK regional clubs for practical placements, with learning modules designed by top experts in sports science and human development, and select sessions held outdoors in the South Downs - to build sustainable careers, coaches need to stay connected with what sustains them. Through a combination of online and in-person interactions and tools, students will graduate with a unique digital portfolio.

While the pilot is based in East Sussex, we welcome applications from across the UK and abroad - as long as participants can reliably commute to all in-person sessions and club placements.

The Academy is powered by a bold ambition; to establish a global community of world-class, female-centric whole-systems performance coaches raising up women's teams across all levels, by the Women's World Cup in 2035.  Over the next decade, we need deep, systemic intervention to enable sustainable growth of the women’s game. Join us transforming football’s coaching culture from the ground up.

programme

phase 1

September 2025 - December 2025

Understanding the Casagrande Coaching philosophy and practice from elite leaders in the performance coaching space. Coaches and staff from partner clubs will also engage in selected modules, fostering shared learning and local collaboration.

phase 2

January 2026 - May 2026

Practical work with players within football clubs, supported by experienced mentors. Academy staff and elite experts will also co-deliver workshops for staff, parents and players, extending impact across the entire club environment.

elevating women’s football

As women’s football grows in popularity, opportunities for coaches haven’t kept pace. Instead, many are pushed toward roles in boys’ academies due to limited access or funding for female football teams. As a result, young coaches with potential leave football altogether or move up through systems that don’t fully prepare them to support female players. 

The Academy is building a bridge between education and employment, equipping new coaches with real-world experiences, professional mentorship and leadership skills tailored to the unique demands of the women’s game. Students will be equipped with tools to evolve systems, not mimic them, contributing to a more resilient and flexible ecosystem.

Running from September 2025 to May 2026, the pilot programme will train 8 high-performance coaches, of all genders, in a female-centric, whole-systems approach that’s currently missing from traditional coach education in women’s football.  

world class expertise

The Academy is part of the Casagrande Coaching consultancy practice and learning centre. We are proud to be supported by Kelly Lindsey, COO at Lewes FC, who serves as Academy Strategic Advisor, bringing global leadership experience across national teams and player development systems.

The programme features modules designed and led by top experts, including:

  • Ellie Maybury, performance consultant known for her work advancing female athlete health, performance, and education across all levels of the women’s football pathway

  • Sarah Murray, high-performance coach and sports psychologist specialising in leadership and youth development

  • Emma Brockwell, pelvic health physiotherapist working across the WSL, dedicated to educating and treating the pelvic health of female athletes across the life cycle, including supporting players during and after pregnancy - along with other world-class experts across the industry, to be announced soon.

The pilot is partnering with grassroots and lower-tier clubs in East Sussex for practical placements and learning exchanges. Alongside Lewes FC, the pilot hub, the partner clubs are Montpelier Villa FC, Brighton Galaxy, Saltdean FC and BHASVIC. All club staff are invited to co-learn alongside the Academy student coaches as that’s how we’ll shift culture, not from the top down but side by side. Together we will address a critical gap in the women’s game: a lack of clear, supported career pathways for new coaches.

groundbreaking impacts

short term

Clubs will benefit from meaningful coaching support for their female players ranging from Under-11 to Senior teams, with Academy students actively contributing on the ground while engaging in learning modules. Throughout the pilot, Academy students will develop digital portfolios that showcase growth and expertise, for ongoing reference and as collateral for future job applications

long term

By tackling structural gaps and taking a long-term view, we will build a future where coaching women’s football is a real and rewarding career, girls are supported as whole people rather than just athletes, and the women’s game can thrive on its own terms. We will rewrite coaching KPIs to reflect human centered success, player ownership, staff well-being and team culture.

from coaches
to communities

While the Academy trains 8 core student coaches, its impact extends across the football ecosystem. Through our partner clubs, we’ll deliver workshops for grassroots teams, support staff, parents and players - covering movement literacy, female health, nutrition, resilience and more. This whole-club approach ensures the Academy creates lasting change beyond the cohort.

application fee & process

The pilot programme is as priced to be accessible as possible for student coaches, with a one-time fee of £299 to take part in the full 10-month programme. This fee helps cover pilot costs, expert contributors and personalised support for the students coaches. There is a two round  process for applicants:

  1. Round One requires the submission of applicants personal information and a CV, and provides more detail on logistical requirements to ensure viability (locations, transport, hours). Application deadline 1 August 2025.

  2. Successful Round One applicants will be invited to Round Two, where more detailed information will be shared, including key dates, curriculum, online and offline learning formats and detailed time commitments. Places will be awarded by August 22nd, 2025.

ROUND ONE:
APPLICANTS CRITERIA

The pilot welcomes coaches of all genders committed to positively impacting women’s football. Applicants must meet the following criteria before proceeding with the application process:

  • Early-career coaches in women’s football, or experienced coaches transitioning from the men’s to the women’s game

  • Based in East Sussex or can easily access the region to attend in-person sessions and club placements

  • Actively coaching, but not yet established in senior roles

  • Hold a BA or MA in sport science, strength & conditioning, education or performance
    OR
    For those not holding higher education qualifications, use the CV submission to outline your experience

  • Pursuing recognised certifications (e.g., UKSCA, NSCA-CSCS, etc.) — preferred but not required

  • Holding a valid First Aid certification by the start of the programme in September

Programme Commitments

  • You’ll be matched with one of our 5 partner clubs:
    Lewes FC, BHASVIC, Saltdean United, Brighton Galaxy, Montpelier Villa

  • Must be available for in-person club placements (Jan–May 2026)

  • Player age groups include U11–U19s, development squads, and senior women’s teams

  • You must be flexible and open to working across all levels—not just senior teams

  • Committed to in-person learning, community building, and co-creating performance frameworks with local clubs

📌 Please note: the programme does not provide visa sponsorship, housing, or relocation support.

two paths,
one goal

The Academy is a 10 month long training programme for football performance coaches who are early in their career or transitioning from men's to the women's game. Combining online modules and in-person practicals, students develop tools to evolve the system and graduate with a digital portfolio that amplifies their employability. 

If you don’t meet the Academy criteria you can still be part of what we're building…

The Greenhouse Lab is a coaching incubator for early-career, semi experienced and very experienced coaches, S&C specialists and performance staff across all sports, all around the world. An entirely online reflective coaching community space, it offers a way for those who want to be part of the broader Casagrande Coaching ecosystem to stay connected, contribute, and help shape the environments and thinking that will feed into the Academy and beyond.

Photos and videos on this page were captured by Lucy Le Lievre, whose work brings our vision to life.