We would like to thank iCoach app, via Darlington fan Paul Cooper, for being the match sponsors of Saturday’s big quarter final Trophy tie against Hornchurch

The iCoach app offers an innovative platform for grassroots and academy football coaches to assess their players in line with the Football Association’s, “Four Corner Model”. The model can be applied to all players, regardless of age or ability. Everyone is different and players will have their own individual needs at any point in their development. 

Although coaches are qualified to improve players in accordance with the model, there has been no way to monitor or assess player progress in line with the model until now. 

Paul Cooper who is a lifelong Darlo fan is a football coach and holds qualifications in talent identification, has labelled his app as a “one-stop shop” for fellow football coaches not just in the United Kingdom but worldwide.  

Paul says: "The importance of the FA’s Four Corner Model is drilled into new and existing coaches in the UK. The model encompasses four key factors that are vital for developing young footballers;  Physical, Technical / Tactical, Psychological and Social. These are broken down further into more specific attributes.” 

"Whilst the Four Corner Model is used in many parts of the world, there has been no real way of grassroots coaches assessing their players to see where they are excelling or lacking." 

iCoach allows coaches to add their players and assess them regularly by allocating scores for each attribute. The app allows users to compare scores to previous assessments and will inform the coach of their most developed, least developed and fastest developing player.

The coronavirus pandemic led to the UK wide postponement of all grassroots football. 

However, this allowed Paul to add further features and functionality to the app prior to release. Coaches can spend many hours planning their sessions. One of the newer features is a video library that brings content into one place and is categorised. 

Another additional feature includes a reference library containing useful, coaching PDF documents. Coaches can now complete and print team sheets, print or share session plan templates or gather ideas for their upcoming sessions. 

He said: "I have received so much positive feedback from coaches who are using the iCoach. The app is very much user-led. Coaches will help the app evolve. Already, the iCoach community have come up with some great ideas." 

Paul added, “I hope this game changing app will revolutionise grassroots and academy football.” 

iCoach is available on the App Store and Google Play Store and is priced at £4.99. 

Don't forget to buy your 50/50 tickets for Saturday's game:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/virtual-5050-draw-hornchurch-game