Football coaching course kicks off

Cook Islands Footballs technical department is currently holding a five-day junior and youth football coaching course with participants from the seven clubs here on Rarotonga.

The participating clubs are the Matavera FC, Tupapa Maraerenga FC, Takuvaine FC, Avatiu FC, Nikao Sokattak FC, Arorangi FC and Titikaveka FC.

Twenty one participants have confirmed their attendance to the Oceania Football Confederation D Licence Part 1 (grassroots) and Part 2 (youth) coaching course which will be a boost for all clubs here on Rarotonga at the junior and youth level.

The five-day course will take place at the CIFA academy in Matavera from 3pm through to 8pm and aims to equip the coaches with the football knowledge and skills that help improve the quality of coaching and player performance at club level.

CIFAs head of the technical division Jimmy Katoa, along with national coach Maurice Tillotson and development officer Tuka Tisam, will lead the grassroots and youth coaching course to provide an opportunity for the coaches to develop vital skills, who will be the key to delivering what they have learned at club trainings.

It is very important what the participants learn at this course. They will be accredited to deliver the coaching materials to improve their players football skills and lift the standard and quality with their respective clubs, says Katoa.

The course will include grassroots level training, theory sessions with topics such as strategic visions and action plans, practical sessions taken by national coach Maurice Tillotson on basic techniques and skill practices, laws of the game with referee instructors Maara Kaukura, goalkeeping skills with instructor Ngatokorua Elikana and the CIFA structure.

For some of the participants the first day of the course will act as a refresher course, however for the rest it will be their first time attending any football coaching course.

It is anticipated that each participant will gain confidence and be comfortable in delivering their coaching sessions at club trainings.

According to first-time participant Trevor Arona of the Tupapa Maraerenga Football club, this course will help him organise and deliver training sessions to his under 15 girls players.

This is a real eye-opener for me knowing what to do before I reach the training sessions, how to set up, making each session count for the players to understand and follow, says Arona

I hope to gain a lot from this coaching course so I can promote football in my club by organising fun and safe football game for our players.