Learn the English You Need for Football
For players and coaches who understand football but want to start communicating more confidently in English. Ten weeks, two live sessions a week, built around real football situations.
Why Football Needs Its Own English
You understand tactics. You know the game. But when it's time to communicate in English during training, respond to feedback or talk about matches and performance, the words stay stuck.
General English gives you an important foundation. But it rarely prepares you for situations such as:
- Understanding common instructions and language used in training
- Responding confidently to feedback
- Participating in team discussions
- Using the specific vocabulary of football naturally
The result can be hesitation: you stay quiet or miss opportunities, even though your football ability is high.
What You'll Be Able to Do
For players
- Understand common training instructions
- Respond to feedback and ask simple questions
- Talk about matches, positions and performance
For coaches
- Give clear, simple instructions
- Describe practices and player roles
- Discuss matches and basic tactical ideas
For everyone
- Build football vocabulary
- Communicate with greater confidence
- Talk about football and everyday life
The Football English Method
Every lesson follows three stages:
-
Engage
Engage with football-based content set at Locomotive London, our fictional football club.
-
Learn
Learn the grammar, vocabulary and communication patterns it contains.
-
Produce
Produce your own language, using what you've learned through speaking and writing activities.
Between sessions, a short microlesson of around 5 to 10 minutes reinforces the vocabulary from that week, and a community prompt after each session gives you one question or phrase to practise with.
More than 200 pages of exercises, illustrations and communication tasks across the textbook and workbook, each lesson building on the last. Three Jamie Johnson graded readers are introduced at Weeks 2, 5 and 8, helping learners build reading fluency through engaging football stories.
Every session has its own materials in the course platform, released week by week.
Is this course right for you?
This course is designed for players, coaches and club staff with elementary English (CEFR A1-A2) who already understand football. If you can introduce yourself in English, understand simple questions, and have basic reading ability, you can start. You do not need to be a professional.
Sessions are conducted in English to maximise learning, but Mark speaks Japanese and can clarify important points when needed.
What the Course Includes
Live learning
- 20 live 1-hour sessions with Mark Bailey over 10 weeks
- Cohort groups of no more than 12 learners
- Session recordings available for review
- Weekly microlesson and community practice prompt
Digital access
- Full access to the HATRIQA course platform for 120 days from the course start date
- Progress activities and digital badges at Weeks 4, 7 and 10
- HATRIQA Football English Certificate on completion
Study materials
- Football English Elementary Textbook
- Football English Elementary Workbook
- Jamie Johnson graded readers (3 books, introduced at Weeks 2, 5 and 8)
- English Language Learner Notebook
(Purchased separately via Amazon, in addition to the course fee)
Required printed materials - the textbook, workbook, three readers and Language Learner Notebook - are purchased separately via Amazon, approximately ¥13,850 at the time of publication (Textbook ¥3,950, Workbook ¥2,750, three Jamie Johnson readers at ¥1,250 each, and the Notebook at approximately ¥3,400). Prices are set by Amazon and may change.
- Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education
- Co-creator of HATRIQA's curriculum, developed with UCL staff and trialled with professional players
- Master's degree in Applied Linguistics, thesis on English use by foreign players in the Premier League
- Cambridge CELTA & DELTA qualified
- Author and editor of more than ten Football English books
- Consultant to Liverpool FC International Football Schools (Tokyo)
- Tutor to Japanese National Team players
Meet Mark
Mark Bailey combines specialist Football English expertise with advanced language-teaching qualifications.
His experience of Japan includes:
- Lived in Osaka for 6 years
- Speaks Japanese (日本語が話せます)
- Has close family ties to Japan
- Played regular amateur football in Japan
Mark understands why speaking in a group can feel difficult for many Japanese learners, and teaches Football English in a way that feels supportive, respectful, and realistic.
Materials and Methodology
HATRIQA's curriculum was developed in collaboration with education specialists, including staff from UCL's Institute of Education.
#1 in the World for Education · QS World University Rankings 2026UCL Institute of Education is ranked number one in the world for Education in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject - its thirteenth consecutive year in first place.
HATRIQA also took part in UCL's EDUCATE programme, a research incubator connecting researchers, educators, and EdTech developers to support evidence-informed education technology.
Mark Bailey, your instructor, is a Lecturer at UCL IOE and brings that academic background directly into your learning experience.
Dates and Times
The next cohort starts 1 September. Sessions run every Tuesday and Thursday.
One cohort, twelve seats. Enrolment closes when the seats are filled.
Course dates: 1 September - 12 November 2026. Sessions take place every Tuesday and Thursday. There will be no lessons on the Japanese public holidays of 22 September and 3 November; these sessions will take place on 10 and 12 November instead.
Course Fee
Amazon sets the materials prices, so the final amount may vary.
The course fee includes 20 live small-group lessons, full platform access and session recordings for 120 days from the course start date, progress activities, badges, and a completion certificate.
What Football and Education Specialists Say
"This course is exactly what we need. Many of our girls dream of playing in the US or Europe. They know they need English, but there are no courses they enjoy and that prepare them for a football environment - until now!"Issei YokoiDirector of Football, Beillevaire Nishinomiya Women FC, Japan
"A knowledge of Football English makes it so much easier for players to understand instructions and explanations. It means players are more confident, happier and more likely to reach peak performance."Damian RodenHead of Performance and Medical, Stoke City FC
"This course is fantastic! The guys at HATRIQA are really serious about what they're doing. The content is really well put together, it's very innovative, and it's fun. The students are going to love it!"Richard HarperAssociate Professor, Osaka University, Japan
What Readers Say About Jamie Johnson
Dan Freedman's books have sold more than one million copies worldwide, and the BBC's Jamie Johnson television series has been broadcast in 73 countries. These carefully graded versions (A1 CEFR level) make the compelling stories accessible to English language learners, masterfully adapted by Nick Bullard from Dan Freedman's beloved series.
"My students have already gone crazy with the first book. They have been begging to read every recess."Virginia PerezElementary Teacher, East LA
"I almost feel like I am Jamie Johnson now."Jude BellinghamReal Madrid and England
"Had me flipping the pages faster than lightning."Sports Illustrated KidsUnited States
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of English do I need to start?
This course is designed for Elementary level (CEFR A1-A2). If you can introduce yourself in English, understand simple questions, and have basic reading ability, you can start.
Can I join if I'm not a professional player or coach?
Yes. This course is for players, coaches and club staff who want to improve their Football English.
What happens if I miss a live session?
All sessions are recorded and available within 24 hours. You can watch recordings at your convenience and still complete activities and earn badges.
Will Mark teach in Japanese?
Sessions are conducted in English to maximise learning, but Mark speaks Japanese and can provide clarification when needed.
Is there a certificate at the end?
Yes. Students who complete the course receive a digital completion certificate.
Can I get a refund if I'm not satisfied?
We offer a two-session satisfaction guarantee. Attend your first two sessions, and if you feel the course is not right for you, contact us within 48 hours of your second session for a full refund.
Join the Next Cohort
The cohort starts 1 September. Enrolment closes when the twelve seats are filled.
Choose a time
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 19:00-20:00 JST
Complete enrolment
Secure one of the twelve seats
Start learning
The cohort begins 1 September 2026
Not sure whether the course is right for you?
Email us at mark@hatriqa.com with any questions before you enrol.