President Edwards urges on A License Course participants
President Edwards urges on A License Course participants
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards has called on coaches to do more that just plan tactics, but to strive to inspire the next generation of footballers.
Edwards was speaking at the fourth edition of the TTFA’s A Licence Coaching Course, launched on Wednesday morning at the UTT Campus, Pt Lisas.
Among those taking the course are former national players Densill Theobald and Yohance Marshall, now with the TTFA’s High Performance Development Programme. The course is consistent with similar content, contact hours and learning outcomes to other A Licence courses in the CONCACAF and UEFA regions, focusing on the practical and theoretical aspects of coaching, with an emphasis on leading elite players and teams at an advanced level.
Course educators are TTFA Technical Director Anton Corneal, Geraldo Delamore, a Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) coach educator, and Dr Gareth Smith, a prominent figure in the US soccer community with extensive experience in coaching, education, and leadership. Also present is Lenny Lake, the FIFA Regional Technical Consultant.
Edwards urged participants to look beyond just practical application of the game.
“It’s not just (about) good tactics and formation and it’s (also) about, inspiring and leading, and nurturing the next generation of footballers,’ Edwards said. “It’s important that you do understand that.”
The recently elected TTFA President also urged coaches to look beyond seeing the A Licence course as just achieving a new qualification and to take opportunities to learn and grow as well.
“The best coaches are continuous learners, we must understand that, and students of the game,” Edwards said. “Yes, you may be at a standard, but your tutors are here and you are here to learn.”
The new TTFA boss also endorsed the work done by local educators Corneal and Rajesh Lachoo, the former Dominica men’s and Trinidad and Tobago women’s national coach.
“Give some acknowledgment for Anton Corneal, our TD for doing this great work and head of coach education, Mr Lachoo, in terms of the work he has been doing, as well as the lecturers who give of their time. Without you guys, this course would not have happened.”
Lachoo, the former Joe Public and Caledonia AIA coach, told participants that it is during courses like the A Licence programme, that they learn to compete against the world and that each is responsible for developing the player under them.
“You are the key to making that happen,” Lachoo said. “Absorb as much as you could from each other, from the coach educators.”
And Fifa Regional Technical Consultant Lake stated: “We are pleased with FIFA to recognise the A Licence here in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Lake recalled that, in the past, the CONCACAF contingent had to exit the room at some FIFA events, unable to meet some set criteria. Now, he rates Trinidad and Tobago among the pioneers in areas such as coaching development.
