20+ attend BVIFA Level II coaching course

By BVI Football Association

Marcos Falopa, BVIFA Technical Director presented Level 11 Football Coaching Course to over 20 attendees. Photo: BVIFA

Over 20 coaches attended the first of a series of three sessions of the BVI Football Association (BVIFA) Level II Coaching Course, presented by Technical Director, Marcos Falopa, at the BVIFA head office.

The course is designed to improve on both the communication with, and education of all the BVIFA’s Coaches and enhance the pathway into further qualifications for those keen to give back to the game.

To launch the programme, which runs every Wednesday both in the classroom and on the soccer pitch, BVIFA President, Andy Bickerton asked those present to utilize Falopa’s experience and be ready to put back into the game.  “We are in problems right now, especially in the primary schools as we don’t have enough coaches,” said Bickerton. “Those we do have are spread too thin and we are losing the quality of our programmes. So, what’s been happening is that we have been running courses for people who haven’t given back, so what I would like to emphasize is that we really need you to stay involved.”

The BVIFA pays coaches to work in the schools’ football programme.

The programmes that the BVIFA wants more and more coaches for is grassroots football in the schools which are open to any boy or girl of any ability to learn the game.

“What we are doing is looking to provide the community with a means to put their kids into programmes and keep them off the streets and out of trouble, so please come back and contribute,” Bickerton urged.

Marcos Falopa also welcomed the attendees and laid the foundation for the course, which is split over three Wednesdays to include theory such as the Principles of Coaching, Technique, Planning, Small-sided games, Warm Up’s and Tactical Games.

“I’m here for the challenge and very pleased to see how many coaches registered for the Level II Course. You will all learn something over the duration, no one knows everything and even if you only learn ten per cent then the course will be successful,” said Falopa.

Falopa also went to explain the methodology of coaching, the importance of coaching education, the establishment of grassroots programmes and how everything fits together to improve football in schools and the performances of national teams.

The sessions continue this Wednesday 3rd May at 4.30pm at the BVIFA office.

Football coach training sessions set for end of April

By BVI Football Association

New BVIFA Technical Director, Marcos Falopa recently attended the FLOW Ultimate Football Challenge on the A.O. Shirley Ground and got to witness some of the talent he is now working with in preparation for upcoming U15 tournaments. Photo: BVIFA

New BVIFA Technical Director, Marcos Falopa recently attended the FLOW Ultimate Football Challenge on the A.O. Shirley Ground and got to witness some of the talent he is now working with in preparation for upcoming U15 tournaments. Photo: BVIFA

New BVIFA Technical Director, Marcos Falopa has been hard at work both on and off the field in his short time with the Association, planning coaching events and training the U15 Boys’ team.

Falopa first met the young boys as part of the delegation that went to Puerto Rico for the GPS Tournament back in January and has since been hard at work with them in preparation for tournaments in St Maarten and the CONCACAF U15 Championship to be held in Florida.

Falopa believes “that it is important to develop and have success from the grassroots levels up to senior teams” and hopes to get the boys to play the ball on the ground like all top teams.

“The boys need to have better exposure in all aspects of the game from technical fundamentals to tactical awareness,” said Falopa. “But we also need to get the coaches better too.”

Getting around in a car provided in a joint deal between the BVIFA and VI Motors of Duffs Bottom, Falopa has visited many schools to hold sessions and has also spoken to many of the coaches involved in schools and after school club coaching.

Following a well-attended grassroots coaching seminar, which is the first step in the BVIFA’s new coaching programme, Falopa will be hosting stage 2 at the end of April, which is a 3-day course featuring both theory and practical excercises.

The course begins April 26 and will be run from 4.30pm until 6.30pm on consecutive Wednesdays until May 10.

Prospective coaches can contact the BVIFA office on 494 5655 for more information and to enroll.