Fourteen participants from clubs in Rarotonga and three from the Pa Enua attended the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) OFC Senior C License Coaching course which came to an end over the weekend on July 2.

The first lessons started on June 27, at the CIFA grounds in Matavera, conducted by OFC educator Andrew Hedge and assisted by CIFA technical director Tahiri Elikana.

Throughout the six-day period, Hedge and Elikana tutored the team of coaches in class theory and on-field practical sessions – when they were joined by the U16 and U19 academy boys.

Each coach was tasked to deliver a session based on a football issue and a theme.

Coaches were assessed and evaluated during the week which gave the instructors an insight to the participants coaching knowledge and abilities.

The six days of training were crucial for each coach, as the course is part of the first module in achieving their qualifications to coach premier men or senior women in the Rarotonga Football Season for their respective clubs and islands.

Hedge and Elikana were both impressed with the outcome and the performances from each of the coaches.

Elikana commented that the course was very effective, “this gives us the opportunity to invest more into our local coaches. Andrew and I hope this will motivate the coaches to keep active in the role and take back everything they have learnt back to their clubs, ready for the season”.

• CIFA Media