The BVI Football Association Technical Director, Dan Neville continued to provide further high level additional learning opportunities to local coaches when he recently held the second part of the BVIFA’s Coach Education Programme, which, in a first for the Territory, was broadcast in conjunction with the English Football Association (the FA).

Grassroots champion and Training Ground Guru, Les Howie, senior lead in the FA Education Department, former professional footballer, Ben Futcher, the FA Youth Coach Developer and the FA’s National Coach Development Manager, Tony McCallum all made appearances by video link, joining local coaches Thomas Albert, Richie Morton, Anna French, Javon Carty, Morris Mark, Jermain Abrams and “Tinnie” Percival for the virtual seminar covering match analysis and developing game understanding.

“The coach education workshops have been a great opportunity to expand my understanding of the game and my role as a coach,” noted French who Coaches on Virgin Gorda and works with the Women’s National Squads.

“With guidance from coach education specialists, participants analyzed a variety of game situations and discussed the factors involved and what strategies we could employ.

“We were also given the opportunity to prepare a short presentation based on a game scenario which was critiqued by a panel of experts and our peers,” added French. “Overall, it was a great experience and I look forward to more opportunities to learn and grow as a coach.”

Abrams, also based on Virgin Gorda, said the seminar “was very informative and interactive and to be able to say what you would have done during game play scenarios and then to have that analysed and tweaked by such high quality coaches really helped. These sorts of events will take our coaching to another level.”

Covid protocols allowing, the next stage will be live workshops and the holding of CONCACAF coaching courses.