The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) successfully staged an International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Grassroots Programme in Region-2.
The three-day initiative, which was a joint venture involving the Ministry of Education, focused on introducing the sport to children between the ages of 6-12.
FIFA Instructor, Lenny Lake, conducted the programme which featured 25 participants comprising teachers, coaches, parents and volunteers. Those individuals were trained on theoretical and practical methods at the Oasis Hotel Conference Hall in Queenstown, Essequibo and the Anna Regina playfield respectively.
According to a release from the GFF:“Present throughout the programme were GFF Coaches Education and Development Officer Lyndon France, GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood, GFF School’s Development Officer Ceon Bristol, GFF Executive Member Keith O’Jeer and Lenny Lake.”
Greenwood, during an invited said, “The technical department has a directive to upscale and develop coaches across the country to equip Guyana with licensed coaches and we have to be visible in the outlying areas. This FIFA Grassroots Coach Education Course will develop coaches to understand age specific methodology and delivery. They were also provided with material such as textbooks, DVDs, and booklets. They will have bibs, cones and balls at the end of the course to ensure they can do this. The Essequibo and Pomeroon Football Association Executive will be tasked on completion of the course to ensure that the candidates remain in the game after the four days.” Meanwhile, France said, “It’s wonderful that the Federation could team up with the Ministry of Education in that in the school system of Guyana there’s always over 200 thousand persons to be accessed and the children spend a lot of time in schools and with their teachers. In addition, by using teachers we are tapping into a resource that has people who have already been trained to understand child and children development, the way they socialize and their psychology. So it’s great that the federation can work with teachers on such a project.”
