Football West runs first A Licence course
The first AFC-Football Australia A Licence course to be held in Western Australia continued over the weekend with 25 coaches gathering at Curtin University.
Football Australia Technical Consultant Ron Smith joined Football West Football Development Officer Gareth Naven for the latest three-day block of classroom and on-field sessions.
“Traditionally our coaches had to travel to the east, so it’s nice that for the first time Football Australia and Football West can conduct an A-Licence course here,” Naven said.
“The numbers show there’s a need for them. We’ve got the interest, we’ve got coaches investing their time and their money, across C, B and A Licences. It shows the ambition of people that they want to get more knowledge. So to make it easier, more accessible, is a positive.”
The A Licence course is a minimum of 180 hours in duration over a year and challenges coaches on areas such as analysis, systems of play and use of technology.
“The focus of the A Licence is the important bits … the tactics and strategies and match analysis, where you expect more of coaches working in semi-professional and professional football,” Smith said.
“Most of the people here are working either in teaching capacities, youth football or senior football. So our focus in working with coaches is not to tell them how to play football but to get them to understand and keep an open mind on things that are happening in the game … what does research tell us, how does that impact on how you coach, what you coach and what do you learn from the analysis, particularly about goalscoring patterns.
“We’ve got access to Angle software, which is a major coup, as that is what FIFA use for all their analysis at the World Cup. We’re trying to teach people how to use that kind of stuff because it’s becoming second nature now.”
With the Socceroos performing so well at the FIFA World Cup last year and the Matildas preparing for a home FIFA Women’s World Cup, Smith is hopeful the success of the national sides will result in greater investment in coach development.
“Coaching is linked to player development, and if you don’t invest in it you are going to stand still,” he said.
“Some countries have massive investment in coach education and do a great job, and we’re looking to try and get more investment in this country in coach education and training of coaches.
“Hopefully, some of the money that comes out of the World Cup (will come into coaching). Everyone rides on the back of the national teams.”
The practical aspect of the weekend saw players from the Perth Glory Academy and Hyundai NTC take part in the sessions.
"Football West would like to thanks the players and their clubs for their assistance, it was a great help," Naven said.
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