Technical Dept to offer online coaching course, technique videos

[September 8, 2020 – Harmon, Guam] Coaches will have the opportunity to take part in the Guam Football Association “D” Coaching Certificate Course from home in the first-ever online version that equates to the traditional classroom theory sessions this month.

“We scheduled coach education courses this month and next month, but based on the current situation in Guam due to the pandemic, we decided to offer an online version instead of canceling September’s course altogether,” said Sang Hoon Kim, GFA Technical Director and one of the course instructors. “Many players are very anxious to get back onto the pitch to play once the situation gets better, and we want to make sure all coaches are prepared for this return to the sport.”

Participants must register for the online course by 6 p.m. Sept. 10 through GFA’s official Web site at https://guamfa.com/education/coaches/courses/

Once registered, participants will receive a workbook through E-mail by Sept. 11 and will need to submit completed work by 12 noon Sept. 28 via E-mail. In order to fully earn the GFA “D” Coaching Certificate, online participants who have submitted their workbooks will next need to complete technical sessions on the pitch during a future course once the island returns to at least PCOR-2. GFA Coach Education courses are supported by Japan Football Association.

Though it is seemingly a quiet time for club players in GFA’s temporarily suspended leagues, coach education should not take a backseat.

“I don’t think there is a quiet time for coaches on this island,” said Dominic Gadia, who recently returned to GFA as the Elite Player Development Officer and a coach education instructor. “I say that because I know how much these coaches sacrifice just attending their respective coaching duties; I know very well the additional times they set aside for coaching courses isn’t easy. Any time they have to devote to coaching courses is the best time.

“In regards to preparing for upcoming leagues and tournaments, I believe coaches should also take this time to train themselves in their abilities to demonstrate football techniques. In my experience in coaching courses in Guam, I’ve seen that many coaches do not have the ability to demonstrate basic football techniques properly. In youth football, the details of technique need to be taught and the best way to teach youth players is to show them exactly how things should be done. If coaches don’t have active teams or players to coach at the moment, I urge them to work on individual technique as a coach,” Gadia added.

In addition to continuing coach education courses, the GFA Technical Department has begun to release football technique videos via GFA’s social media platforms to aid both coaches and players in practicing at home. Kim and Gadia, as well as GFA Assistant Technical Director Ross Awa, have engaged in previously filmed sessions for various basic football techniques with players from Elite Selection teams. The first video, demonstrating techniques for dribbling, was released last week, with new videos to be released throughout the month of September.

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]