Value yourselves as coaches – FIFA female course instructor

Female football coaches who are attending the grassroots course put on by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, in conjunction with the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), have been admonished to value themselves as coaches.{{more}}

Making this plea was course facilitator – Andrea Rodebaugh as she addressed the opening ceremony last Tuesday morning at the Media Centre at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

Rodebaugh, in directing her comments to the thirty coaches, remarked: “Many times coaches are not given the importance that they should be given… Sometimes we as coaches don’t value ourselves as we should.”

A former Mexican national female team player, Rodebaugh in challenging the all-female cast of coaches to effect that change, said: “Your participation in this course is extremely important, because it is you who have the direct impact and contact with the players, especially if we are talking about grassroots players, which are the players of the future.”

Rodebaugh noted that the manner of the delivery of the instructions by coaches impacts on the female side of football in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

She, however, admitted that if female football is to develop here, the executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation cannot do it alone.

“Development should not just be the responsibility of an FA, especially in smaller countries…Development has to be part of all of society and the participation of government and non-government organisations is extremely important,” Rodebaugh informed.

Meanwhile, coordinator of women’s football of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation, Yoland London indicated that during the five days of the course, which ends tomorrow, Saturday, Rodebaugh will seek to address various aspects pertinent to the coaching of the sport at the grassroots level.

Among the topics which were set to be elucidated as outlined by London are, women’s nutrition, characteristics of female players, injury prevention, the role of the coach and player, characteristics and stages of female development.

London advised that the course was delivered through theoretical and practical modes. She underlined that it is the first time a football course has been held here, which is designed primarily for female coaches.

She revealed that the participating coaches were mainly drawn from the national senior football team , representatives from the Division of Sports and Physical Education and Physical Education teachers.

The course concludes this Saturday with a female football festival and an official closing ceremony. (RT)