BASINGSTOKE College of Technology has scored a first for Hampshire by getting a sports course accredited by the Football Association.

Students working towards a BTEC national diploma in sports have been invited to take part in an online education programme offered by the national football organisation.

The college is the first in the country to take part in the project, and only the third in England after colleges in Solihull and Chichester.

The web-based course is separated into six interactive sections, including fitness for football, psychology for soccer, coaching children, planning and preparing coaching sessions, player and match analysis and soccer camp coach.

Students work through each part on their own and will receive an extra qualification for completing the Level 1 Coaches Support Package for FA Psychology.

Dominic Cunliffe, programme manager for sport and public services at BCOT, said: "We've worked really hard at the college for the course, so we're really pleased and very proud to have been invited to be a part of the programme.

"A lot of the students want to go on to become coaches or PE teachers, but the aspects they're learning on the FA course are transferable for other sports, not just football, which is great."

He added: "The online aspect increases their use of technology and they are totally in charge of their own learning because they can work on their own in their own time."

Mr Cunliffe said BCOT's success with accreditation was partly due to the college's strong links with Basingstoke Town Football Club through their football development programme.

Members of the development programme meet up for regular training and many represent Basingstoke Town's under-18s team.

At the moment, the online course is only available to the BTEC students in their second year, but it will be available to all from the next academic year.

First published: Thursday, March 2, 2006