Close to 40 Coaches Earn GFA “E” Certificate

Close to 40 Coaches Earn GFA “E” Certificate

In preparation for the start of the Triple J Auto Group Robbie Webber Youth Soccer League, close to 40 volunteer youth coaches completed requirements for the Guam Football Association “E” Coaching Certificate Course over the weekend at the GFA National Training Center.

“This was the first “E” Course I attended and I am impressed with the excellent structure of the course,” said Candy Perkins, who will be coaching a Guam Shipyard Wolverines Under-8 team in the upcoming youth league. “The course was extremely informative in terms of coaching tips, and I’ve gotten some fresh, new ideas to try out during my coaching sessions.

“For me, the best part of the course was the interactive portion, where the coaches in the course were given the opportunity to fully apply what we had been discussing through training sessions on the field with GFA’s licensed coaches. I wish I had taken this course the first time I started coaching – it would have made everything a whole lot easier with a lot less Internet research on the same topics covered live in the course,” added Perkins, a four-year coach and a mother to three players in the youth league – Kyton, Emily, and Alley.

The GFA “E” Coaching Certificate Course, facilitated by GFA technical director Gary White and other GFA licensed coaches, is designed primarily for coaches of players in the grassroots ages, as well as those entering the profession for the first time.

“The recommendation by GFA’s technical department to mandate that a minimum of a GFA “E” Coaching Certificate be implemented for all youth coaches working with hundreds of teams in GFA leagues by the end of 2014 was accepted by the GFA and club technical directors,” White said. “This is a massive step in the right direction to develop thousands of players at the grassroots level by providing coaches the initial resources, networking and tools to successfully lead a youth club team.

“Club teams are at the foundation of GFA’s national program and proper coaching in players’ formative years at the club level is crucial to their future success in the sport,” White added.

Coaches who earn the “E” certificate may move on to complete requirements for GFA “D” License, a more intense course where each participant is evaluated and graded. The next “D” License course, scheduled to begin Sept. 10, still has slots available for coaches who already have an “E” Certificate.

The best candidates from the “D” License pool may be nominated to earn an AFC “C” Coaching License, which is recognized globally and is a minimum requirement to coach a youth national team. From there, serious candidates may move up to earn higher licenses.

Coaches most recently presented “E” Certificates are Pution Mendiola from the ASC Trust Islanders, Jon Barnhart, Catherine Halili and Joey San Nicolas from Community First Dededo Soccer Club, Christian Brecht, Pauline Gumataotao, William Murphy, Candy Perkins, Ray Quintanilla, Anita Toves, and Pete Toves from the Guam Shipyard Wolverines, Clay Kimball, Maggie Phillips, Joe Wooldridge, from the Lil’ Bombers, Litasha Babas, Katie Mills, Clara Mortera, Siegfred Mortera, and Joshua Pangelinan from the Orange Crushers FC, Bill Kerr and Jaime Soriano from the Paintco Strykers, Eugenio Maestrecampo, Camarin Perez, Doreen Rivera, Maria Rivera, and Anthony Yatar from the Southern Cobras, Chris Choi and Dr. Gary Larkin from the Tigers, and Beth Chadwick, Tyson Cramer, Carl Jones, Rajesh Kurian, and Bennett Spence from the Wings FC. In addition to club coaches, John Laanan from F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School also earned his GFA “E” Certificate.

For more information about the upcoming GFA “D” License course or other soccer coaching initiatives, call the GFA Main Office at 637-4321.

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Candy Perkins, in center with light blue top, conducts a training session with fellow coaches during the recent Guam Football Association “E” Coaching Course held Saturday at the GFA National Training Center. Perkins was one of close to 40 coaches who received the GFA “E” Coaching Course certificate of completion.

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Guam Football Association technical director Gary White facilitates the recent GFA “E” Coaching Course held Saturday at the GFA National Training Center.

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Bill Kerr, in center in dark blue, conducts a training session with fellow coaches during the the recent Guam Football Association “E” Coaching Course held Saturday at the GFA National Training Center. Kerr was one of close to 40 coaches who received the GFA “E” Coaching Course certificate of completion.

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Guam Football Association technical director Gary White, in center in black, addresses the group of coaches after the conclusion of all technical sessions during the recent GFA “E” Coaching Course held Saturday at the GFA National Training Center.

Coaches completing the requirements of the Guam Football Association “E” Coaching Course held Saturday at the GFA National Training Center pose for a group photo with GFA licensed coaches who assisted with facilitating the course.