GFA to offer “D” Coaching License Course for women

[October 16, 2020 – Harmon, Guam] Thanks to funding from the new FIFA Women’s Football Development Program, the Guam Football Association Technical Department will be conducting a GFA “D” Coaching License Course for women beginning Oct. 23.

The course, which is free-of-charge to participants, is an introductory course for coaches working with youth players and for individuals who are interested in becoming a youth coach.

“We see thousands of children every year who enjoy playing soccer for their clubs and schools, as well as recreationally with friends,” said Sang Hoon Kim, GFA Technical Director. “We have organized the GFA “D” license course to ensure that we have coaches with the proper coach education to help these young players develop to their potential. Usually in courses we’ve held in the past, we have noticed that the majority of participants were male coaches, but as an organization that promotes football for all, we also would like to see more female coaches in the sport. It is so important to see more diversity among coaches; more youth players will be inspired to play and later take advantage of all that the sport can offer them on and off the pitch.

“I would like to personally encourage all women interested in coaching, with any level of experience, to take this course. Thanks to generous support from FIFA for women’s football, we will continue to create even more innovative opportunities for women,” added Kim, who also is the Head Coach of the Masakåda, Guam Women’s National Team.

The course registration link is available online under GFA “D” License Course: https://guamfa.com/education/coaches/courses/

In a recent GFA “D” Coaching License Course that was held at GFA in July, 16-year-old Tristyana Santos and 17-year-old Kiarra Hutcherson were two of only five women registered for the course with 15 participants.

“I took the GFA “D” Coaching License Course earlier this year so I can view the game from a coach’s perspective and also for me to help other youth players with their understanding of the game,” Santos said. “After taking the course, I see how much work our coaches put in for us to get the best training as possible.

“There aren’t as many female coaches as male coaches, so this course available specifically for women is a very good opportunity for them,” added Santos, who helps coach youth goalkeepers.

Course topics include learning about the characteristics of youth players, youth training objectives, youth coaching methodologies, and the coaching process, among others. The course is set to open 6 p.m. Oct. 23 and through the weekend. The final course day and closing ceremony will be held Oct. 26. The theory portion of the course may convert to an online version if GFA is closed based on Guam’s PCOR status.

“The reason I joined the course earlier this year was because I like the idea of being able to help the next generation of soccer players reach their potential and being a part of that journey makes me really happy,” said Hutcherson, who started playing the sport when she was four years old. “Since most of my experience in the game is as a player, the course really opened my eyes to all the hard work coaches put into their sessions, making sure to accommodate everyone.

“I feel that this course is a good opportunity for women to become coaches, as they will inspire young players to become coaches, which the island needs more of,” added Hutcherson.

GFA leagues are currently on hold following the latest government mandates. Once Guam’s PCOR status improves and the organization of leagues is allowed, GFA will make announcements regarding the start dates and the registration process.

To supplement coach education courses, the GFA Technical Department has released a full series of football technique videos via GFA’s social media platforms to aid both coaches and players in practicing at home.

Videos are uploaded to an IGTV series called “Soccer Skills” on GFA’s official Instagram account @GuamFootball and also to a playlist called “Guam FA Soccer Skills” on GFA’s official YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/guamfootball

For more information about coach education, visit the GFA Web site at https://guamfa.com or send an E-mail to [email protected]