Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter
The curtain came down Sunday on a successful staging of the four-day Global Soccer Ministries (GSM) International Community Coaching Education Course.
The course which began on Thursday ended on Sunday at the Mayfair Hotel in St Andrew. At the end of the sessions, the over 73 participants received a Community Level 2 certificate.
The course, which was directed by international coaching educator and the executive director and founder of GSM, Paul Banta, covered a wide cross section of technical principles to influence and develop coaching programmes in Jamaica.
Premier goalkeeper trainers
Banta was assisted by United States Soccer Federation goalkeeping coach Reggie Pierre-Jerome, who is on the coaching staff of Florida International University and director of the goalkeeping programme at Weston Soccer Club in Florida. He is one of the premier goalkeeper trainers in the United States.
Baris Johnson, director of coaching for Global Soccer Ministries (GSM) Jamaica, stated in an interview with The Gleaner that the seminar highlighted the need for a coaching association in Jamaica. He indicated that the participants are optimistic that they will be able to form such an association and implement more workshops and development programmes for coaches islandwide.
Good turnout
"The seminar went well. We appreciate the fact that so many coaches turned out and this indicates to us that there is a need for more development programmes. These programmes will help us to improve our coaches and in turn the players," Johnson said.
Banta who has coached youth, college, and semi-pro football both on the international and national levels winning over 600 matches since 1968 stated that the success of the seminar was way beyond what he had anticipated.
"The bonding of the coaches was amazing. It is the beginning of a new era in Jamaican football. These coaches mean business, and hopefully they will impact the development of youth football here in Jamaica," Banta said.
Aspiring coach Karume Huie stated that the seminar was a God-send. He indicated that having studied the rudiments of the game, the physical components and fundamentals was an eye-opener.
