How to become a coach

One is only considered a coach after successful completion of training provided by a competent trainer provided by FIFA, CAF or other confederations, football associations or the structures under their auspices. An example of structures that can provide training is the Olympic Solidarity Committee, but still, it is basically a FIFA program. Let us start from the beginning. Entry requirements will differ from association to association, but for beginners' courses, anyone can enroll. Normally, you need to know how to read and write. Your playing history counts for nothing. I must say to many association and their Premier Leagues, coaches education ranks last and is never a requirement to be employed in that capacity.

You may be required to pay fees depending on the association. Where there is a coaches association, they are responsible for organising the course, i.e. dates and venues. They will be responsible for providing instructors. The fees you pay go towards venue rental, paying the instructor’s fees, transport, food accommodation and entertainment, course material as in photocopying, hand-outs, administration and that association has to make profit for its general operations.

The coaches association will advertise, which is another expense, and get all participants names and their payments. Courses are usually rated from Level 1 to Level 4, where Level 1 is entry-level. Some, as it was in earlier days, will have Preparatory/Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced Levels. As an entry-level coach, you will be expected to be able to demonstrate basic technique to players.

The time frame ranges from 7 to 14 days from Level 1 up. Prices differ from association to association, course to course and from time to time. You will be required to write an examination at the end of each course and do a practical which are divided into two parts; your own performance of a certain technique as you would demonstrate to your team and the actual coaching of a group of players. These players can be your course mates or a group of players provided by course coordinators. Here you will be tested for your understanding of the subject, ability to handle players, organisation, time keeping and the like.

In the theory examination, you will be tested on the whole course material. It is imperative that you get tested on the Laws of the Game. This will usually be done by a referees’ instructor who will give you a test which referees do. At this level, the material may be level-friendly and the marking a little generous. It becomes serious business when you do higher levels. At higher levels, failing the Laws of the Game will cost you a certificate.

A lot of these will depend on the standards of the examining authorities and all this information is very general. Basic first aid and sports medicine are part of the curriculum from Level 1. A qualified Sports Medicine doctor will teach and examine trainees on the subject.

Level 1 will basically cover the proper football language like is defining technique, tactics, skill, conditioning and demonstration of these. It will cover basic performance of these and how to coach them. Higher levels will require advanced knowledge of the human biology like the locomotor systems, dietary needs and respiration as well as human behaviour.

Level 2 is a more serious result oriented program that may take as much time but more detail about planning training sessions and handling players is emphasised. There is a shift to physical conditioning and detailed technique training.

Level 3 is longer, harder and more demanding mentally and physically. Tactics are the leading topic as well as conditioning. Match analysis and game observation are top of the agenda. Sometimes student coaches will be required to go to matches with specific tasks to do and look out for and given assignments and home works. They may be required to do a class presentation.

At level 4, there may be a requirement that you have access to coaching 11 versus 11 teams as you will be given assignments and be required to give feedback from time to time and an instructor will visit you several times before you get certificated. Theoretically, technique, tactics, physical conditioning, dressing room management, data collection and Laws of the Game become very important.

You may be asked to do the football business side and marketing. At all levels, psychology is taught, starting very basic and becoming extremely important at Level 4. Sometimes there is a requirement to do media relations. There are a lot of other important things to learn and depending on the available instructors and personnel, the order of importance of topics may vary.

I must say that many football associations allow the existence and operation of a football coaches association. According to FIFA, only the football association is answerable for the game and its structures as the custodians of the game. It is then up to coaches to organise themselves as an association under the mother bodies.

FIFA will provide instructors and pay for them for programs like the FUTURO courses. Associations have the responsibility to request for these. Trainees are usually encouraged to attend in their own political territories but it is not a rule. Usually, it would be a free course with a few goodies for attendants, but associations get extra activities on the programs that require payment.

The same goes for the International Solidarity Committee training. The IOC will usually target youth coaches and school teachers. There may be special courses that can be organised from time to time but all FIFA does is wait for association to apply or request.

Sometimes specialist courses are organised. This can be goalkeeper training courses, youth training for players below 10 and so forth. There can be refresher seminars that are target specific. It can be a single subject seminar covering tactics only. It can be even be further divided into topics like 'Defending corner kicks', 'Attacking from wings' and 'Winning the ball in Midfield'.

For qualified coaches, an attachment with big clubs that have experienced coaches, this can be a worthwhile experience. It helps cement all the theory learnt and boosts the confidence especially if one has never been in a situation to coach. This does not substitute the moment of truth when you are by yourself and 40 players are waiting to hear what you have to say and show. It can be very scary but it is very normal.

CAF just started to have proper certification system that is in line with the UEFA licensing, a few years back. As expected, they have done a lot of work in North and West Africa. Both UEFA and CAF adopted the C, B and A Licensing system. After the UEFA A License, there is a Pro License. These are however done by individual associations under the authority of UEFA. CAF still runs the courses and Lesotho and Botswana had C and B License course this year.

I may have omitted a few other things as I am taking all this from my head. I encourage you to search for your information on the net, though from my experience, it is not readily available. Associations usually do not advertise for these courses and you will know about them when they are done. Good luck.

Poor Penalty-Kick, Good Save, And Still A Goal. Bizzare But They All Count.

Already viewed over a 2 000 000 times, this penalty shoot-out is of the most bizarre standards. A very tense match between Maghreb Fez and FAR Rabat for a quarterfinal berth in the Moroccan Coupe du Trone, a penalty shootout was to separate the two teams.

The penalty taker tried to tuck the ball to the left side of the keeper, Khalid Askri, into the corner. The goalie anticipated well, diving full length to block the ball which was loaded with a wicked spin he never imagined. As he celebrated his penalty save, waving to the crowd and kissing his jersey badge, the ball uncoiled converting the potential energy from the spin after the bounce to a kinetic energy bound for goal-line.

Of course the taker was at pains to explain to the referee the goal he scored. As per the Laws of the Game, the whole of the ball crossed over the line and the goal was given, much to the amazement of Khalid Askri who turned around to find that the penalty he had saved was a goal. They lost the match 7-6. Wow!

What are your thoughts on this one?

Poor Penalty-Kick, Good Save, And Still A Goal. Bizzare But They All Count.

Already viewed over a 2 000 000 times, this penalty shoot-out is of the most bizarre standards. A very tense match between Maghreb Fez and FAR Rabat for a quarterfinal berth in the Moroccan Coupe du Trone, a penalty shootout was to separate the two teams.

The penalty taker tried to tuck the ball to the left side of the keeper, Khalid Askri, into the corner. The goalie anticipated well, diving full length to block the ball which was loaded with a wicked spin he never imagined. As he celebrated his penalty save, waving to the crowd and kissing his jersey badge, the ball uncoiled converting the potential energy from the spin after the bounce to a kinetic energy bound for goal-line.

Of course the taker was at pains to explain to the referee the goal he scored. As per the Laws of the Game, the whole of the ball crossed over the line and the goal was given, much to the amazement of Khalid Askri who turned around to find that the penalty he had saved was a goal. They lost the match 7-6. Wow!

What are your thoughts on this one?

Poor Penalty-Kick, Good Save, And Still A Goal. Bizzare But They All Count.

Already viewed over a 2 000 000 times, this penalty shoot-out is of the most bizarre standards. A very tense match between Maghreb Fez and FAR Rabat for a quarterfinal berth in the Moroccan Coupe du Trone, a penalty shootout was to separate the two teams.

The penalty taker tried to tuck the ball to the left side of the keeper, Khalid Askri, into the corner. The goalie anticipated well, diving full length to block the ball which was loaded with a wicked spin he never imagined. As he celebrated his penalty save, waving to the crowd and kissing his jersey badge, the ball uncoiled converting the potential energy from the spin after the bounce to a kinetic energy bound for goal-line.

Of course the taker was at pains to explain to the referee the goal he scored. As per the Laws of the Game, the whole of the ball crossed over the line and the goal was given, much to the amazement of Khalid Askri who turned around to find that the penalty he had saved was a goal. They lost the match 7-6. Wow!

What are your thoughts on this one?

Poor Penalty-Kick, Good Save, And Still A Goal. Bizzare But They All Count.

Already viewed over a 2 000 000 times, this penalty shoot-out is of the most bizarre standards. A very tense match between Maghreb Fez and FAR Rabat for a quarterfinal berth in the Moroccan Coupe du Trone, a penalty shootout was to separate the two teams.

The penalty taker tried to tuck the ball to the left side of the keeper, Khalid Askri, into the corner. The goalie anticipated well, diving full length to block the ball which was loaded with a wicked spin he never imagined. As he celebrated his penalty save, waving to the crowd and kissing his jersey badge, the ball uncoiled converting the potential energy from the spin after the bounce to a kinetic energy bound for goal-line.

Of course the taker was at pains to explain to the referee the goal he scored. As per the Laws of the Game, the whole of the ball crossed over the line and the goal was given, much to the amazement of Khalid Askri who turned around to find that the penalty he had saved was a goal. They lost the match 7-6. Wow!

What are your thoughts on this one?

FIFA To Change Rules?

Football needs an overhaul from top to bottom. FIFA must be restructured and be more democratic. Confederations must also be more transparent and more accountable. A lot of undeserving African teams get to tournaments and World Cups because of the dirty relationship top bodies cultivate with corrupt nations. I don't mean to be political. We close that one.

The game has seen more anti-football tactics lately and a lot of football experts like French Arsene Wenger of Arsenal and Dutch all-time great Johan Cryuff have expressed their disgust at the attitude. I somehow expect the appalling shows to be with us a while as the game's playing field is getting smaller as teams squeeze in to defend and close down each other while on the other end being wary of offside. Without much intelligence or fancy footwork kicking butt seems an option.

FIFA and the IFAB should vote to change Laws Of The Game, Law11 in particular, the offside rule. They must advocate for no offside outside the penalty area along the length of the box, or in total. This opens up space on the field and cause talented players with flair to express themselves with reduced risk of being chopped with every contact with the ball.

FIFA also must be reasonable. They have maximum pitch sizes at 120 metres by 90 metres and but then go on to reduce that to 110 x 75  metres maximum for international matches. This is very senseless. We need more space to play better, especially at international and World Cup levels. It must be understood that the more space is available to occupy, the more free-flowing the game will be, hence more freedom to attack and of course more goals.

The rule must stipulate the punishment for defenders who go to camp in front of their goal. This will make it harder to defend. With more space to attack and the 'hard to defend' conditions, there will be more for fans to cheer about. We will see more action swinging from one goal area to the other.

FIFA can go on to add 4 assistants as they always threaten, so there is less head ache for referees. IFAB have no choice but to approve the goal-line video technology. Ireland and England will surely remember the French goal with a Henry Hand in a game that made them miss a trip to South Africa, and a Lampard non-goal that could have changed things for the better when they lost to Germany in the World Cup last 16 match, when they both vote on this one during the IFAB meeting a few weeks from now. I am assuming they will be having their thinking caps on.

If you were FIFA, what would you make better for the good of the game?

FIFA To Change Rules?

Football needs an overhaul from top to bottom. FIFA must be restructured and be more democratic. Confederations must also be more transparent and more accountable. A lot of undeserving African teams get to tournaments and World Cups because of the dirty relationship top bodies cultivate with corrupt nations. I don't mean to be political. We close that one.

The game has seen more anti-football tactics lately and a lot of football experts like French Arsene Wenger of Arsenal and Dutch all-time great Johan Cryuff have expressed their disgust at the attitude. I somehow expect the appalling shows to be with us a while as the game's playing field is getting smaller as teams squeeze in to defend and close down each other while on the other end being wary of offside. Without much intelligence or fancy footwork kicking butt seems an option.

FIFA and the IFAB should vote to change Laws Of The Game, Law11 in particular, the offside rule. They must advocate for no offside outside the penalty area along the length of the box, or in total. This opens up space on the field and cause talented players with flair to express themselves with reduced risk of being chopped with every contact with the ball.

FIFA also must be reasonable. They have maximum pitch sizes at 120 metres by 90 metres and but then go on to reduce that to 110 x 75  metres maximum for international matches. This is very senseless. We need more space to play better, especially at international and World Cup levels. It must be understood that the more space is available to occupy, the more free-flowing the game will be, hence more freedom to attack and of course more goals.

The rule must stipulate the punishment for defenders who go to camp in front of their goal. This will make it harder to defend. With more space to attack and the 'hard to defend' conditions, there will be more for fans to cheer about. We will see more action swinging from one goal area to the other.

FIFA can go on to add 4 assistants as they always threaten, so there is less head ache for referees. IFAB have no choice but to approve the goal-line video technology. Ireland and England will surely remember the French goal with a Henry Hand in a game that made them miss a trip to South Africa, and a Lampard non-goal that could have changed things for the better when they lost to Germany in the World Cup last 16 match, when they both vote on this one during the IFAB meeting a few weeks from now. I am assuming they will be having their thinking caps on.

If you were FIFA, what would you make better for the good of the game?