The inaugural Trinidad and Tobago Football Association A License Coaching course, the first of its kind in the Caribbean region, commenced on Monday at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port of Spain.
Representatives from nine Caribbean nations are taking part including St Lucia, Guyana, Jamaica, Dominica, St Kitts/Nevis, Antigua/Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands and hosts T&T. Among the course facilitators is Branimir Ujevic, FIFA’s Head of Coaching and Player Development. Ujevic, fondly called “Branco” was part of a FIFA Technical Development workshop in Dubai in April where Technical leaders from pilot programmes in USA, Australia, Senegal and Brazil shared findings from their own workshops in the interest of spreading best practices globally.
In line with the FIFA President’s Vision 2020-2023 to make football truly global, FIFA aims to align similar standards and benchmarks all over the world. This involves high level collaboration between FIFA technical experts and FIFA member associations (MAs), who are also given access to the resources on the FIFA Training Centre platform. “It is crucial for FIFA technical experts coming from different confederations and different regions,” said Ujevic. “They are FIFA’s voice on the field in the development of coach educators and it is vital for each coach educator to be able to access the FIFA Training Centre platform where they’re going to learn in their own language.”
The other course facilitators include TTFA Technical Director Anton Corneal, former England U-17 team head coach and English FA John Peacock during which time he won the 2010 UEFA European U-17 Championship in 2010 and 2014. He is also also an England National coach mentor. The other instructor is Tony McCullum who is the Senior Regional Coach Development Manager for the Football Association of England. Concacaf’s Development manager Andre Waugh is also attending as an observer.
The main aim of this course, of which the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) is a major supporter, is to educate coaches on the modern trends of the game, focusing on the practical & theoretical aspects of coaching, with an emphasis on leading the elite player and team at an advanced level. To complete this level coaching licence, it will entail the following:
- Blocked & Blended learning approach incorporating on-line, face-to-face and workplace learning opportunities.
- Course hours
- 112 Guided Learning Hours (face-to-face)
- 38 Online learning (webinar workshops)
- 72 Workplace learning (coaching – training & fixtures)
- Total 222 hours
Theory/ Online Sessions include
- Pre-course (3 hrs) – CONCACAF B Revisited/Coaching Journey/Coaching Philosophies
- Connecting the Learning 1 (3 hrs) – Player Development
- Connecting the Learning 2 (3 hrs) – Team & Game Analysis
- Coaching Philosophies
Practical Sessions Include
- Defensive 1/3 (strategies and tactics)
- Defensive 1/3 (Modern Trends and position specific)
- Attacking 1/3 (strategies and tactics)
- Attacking 1/3 (Modern Trends and position specific)
SOURCE: thettfa.com