D Licence Coaching Course Launched

KINGSTON, Aug. 3 (JIS): 

Five hundred school football coaches across the island now have the opportunity to earn their D licence certification.  

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, launched the training initiative during a ceremony held recently at the Jamaica Football Federation headquarters in Kingston. 

Ms. Grange said that the training course, which will begin at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence at the University of the West Indies for Kingston and St Andrew, is being conducted against the background of the requirements that all primary school football coaches must hold a D Licence Diploma. 

She noted that football at the primary and basic school levels “is of extreme importance.” 

“We had some years ago a successful little league competition and I am waiting on the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) to reactivate that programme in short order, so we could start with the very young,” she said. 

According to Minister Grange, the training will create opportunities for coaches to develop into professionals. 

“It’s a win win situation both for the player and the coaches,” she added.  

She said that the Ministry will be contributing $10 million to the training courses through the Sports Development Foundation. 

Ms. Grange mentioned that while the training will start with the D Licence at the grassroots level, there are plans to offer training for the higher levels. 

There are five certification levels required to be recognised as a football coach in Jamaica. These are: Pro licence, A licence, B licence, C licence and D licence (grassroots level.) 

“This training is critical to our football and certainly the ministry endorses it,” she added.