Twenty-one candidates completed FIFA/CIOC Coaches course
May 18, 2010
By Beverly Melbourne
Twenty-one coaches successfully completed the FIFA/CIOC Youth Coaches Course which was hosted by the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA), at the Family Life Centre and the Truman Bodden Sports Complex recently.
The course was conducted by FIFA Instructor Alvin Corneal from Trinidad, and the group consisted of new and seasoned coaches. The new coaches were there for the introduction to coaching, while the seasoned coaches were there for further information relevant to this lifetime learning career. The course lasted for one week and was subjected to classroom and outdoor sessions.
Corneal in his comments with regards to the course said, “I am pleased to report that the organization and management of this course was excellent. All aspects of the program were dealt with efficiently and effectively.”
“Sincere thanks to Alastair Kay for his outstanding job in handling the program, with the assistance of Beverly Melbourne, Mark Campbell and Winston Blackwood and to Carl Brown for his spontaneous input. I am extremely thankful to FIFA’s Technical and education department for allowing me to serve in this capacity. Many thanks to the CIFA for the success of this project and may the coaches begin the process of spreading the information which they received during the past week,” end of quote.
President of the CIFA, Jeffrey Webb, joined the Chairman of the CIOC Don Mclean for the closing ceremony and graciously assisted in handing out the certificates.
Webb in a short speech to the participants expressed his Association’s sincere thanks to the CIOC for their partnership with FIFA to make this program possible while encouraging the participants to make every effort to use the knowledge they gained during the course to improve the quality of Football in the Country.
Corneal arrived on the island on May 6, and started the course sessions on May 7, with an opening ceremony attended by the President of the Cayman Islands Olympic Association, the local organizers and the participants. Following this, Corneal handed out bags to the participants containing equipments for the course and went straight into the components for the day and a practical at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex later in the day.
At the opening ceremony the Master of ceremonies was Mark Campbell, an executive member of the CIFA, and those present were Don Mclean, Chairman of the Cayman Olympic Committee, Carl Brown Technical Director of the Cayman Islands Football program who represented the CIFA as the President Jeffrey Webb, was off island.
Brown in his welcome address commended both FIFA and the Cayman Olympic Committee for having exposed these budding coaches to this coaching course, while encouraging the participants to absorb as much information and knowledge from the course for their future endeavors.
Chairman CIOC Mclean, also paid tribute to FIFA for providing the partnership between FIFA and the CIOC, and pledged to the participants that more will be done in the future.
This was followed by Corneal’s addressed to the gathering indicating FIFA’s pleasure in being part of the program.
The course was tailored for youth league coaches, and will focus on the technical aspects of coaching, along with the development of youth players. It was attended by new youth team coaches such as Shenel Gall, Ramon Sealy, Nikolai Hill, Syd Parson, Jeremy Welcome, Nicole Ebanks, Lanie McLaughlin, Tiger Wilson, Clifton Ricketts, Theron Wood and Kirk Rowe.
It was conducted under the Olympic Solidarity programme, and was designed to provide a standardized level of training to coaches around the world. It also provided an excellent opportunity for those involved with youth teams to receive formal training by a FIFA expert.
