The BVI Football Association Coaches Education Department has just concluded its first online course – the Academy Coaches’ Certificate – with 26 participants successfully completing the four-module workshop.

A broad spectrum of new coaches took part in the Academy Course representing clubs such as Panthers FC, Islanders FC, Old Madrid FC, Wolues FC, Sugar Boys FC and Rebels FC as well as players from the National teams and experienced coaches looking to extend their knowledge with new ideas and discussion with the course facilitator, Jason Blake.

Blake who specializes in Talent Identification and Development and who has worked at English Premier League Clubs of Southampton, Burnley, and Bournemouth as well as the Canadian Football Association, put together the course content along with BVIFA Technical Director, Dan Neville.

Modules convered by the course included Managing a Match day, Talent ID, Long Term Player Development and
Session Planning.

Blakd and Neville were pleased with the way the course went.

“We are delighted to get our online coach education underway with our first Academy Coaches’ Certificate. Educating coaches on the islands and beyond is a priority for us and we feel the blend of online and live sessions run in conjunction with the H Lavity Stoutt Community College will have a great impact on the knowledge and performance of coaches from all sports.”

A ”live” education session for coaches on how to build a player’s technical base and which also was concluded recently on Tortola and Virgin Gorda with 18 coaches attending, is seen by Neville as a key component of the BVIFA’s overall development plan for football.