The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has sent three of its coaches to the Concacaf “D” License coaching course currently taking place in Aruba.
The three coaches, National youth team assistant coach Terrence Marcelle, TTFA Coaching instructor Rajeesh Latchoo and National Under 20 Women’s assistant coach Desiree Ann Sargeant are among 27 coaches from eight countries participating in the course which started on Thursday and ends on Sunday. Latchoo is also an assistant coach with Caledonia AIA while Sargeant, a former national player, also coaches the St Augustine Secondary Girls team. Marcelle is an assistant coach with the T&T Men’s Under 17 and Under 15 teams.
Theoretical sessions are conducted in a classroom setting, while practical sessions take place at the Estadio Guillermo Próspero Trinidad, Aruba’s national football stadium. After four days of training, the 28 participants (20 men and eight women) will be subjected to an examination, after which they will receive their CONCACAF D License certification.
Concacaf launched its first D License course in Mexico City last month serving to reinforce the governing body's vision and commitment to education, so that the standard of the game can be raised throughout the region. It is CONCACAF's first official licensing program for coaches and it will establish the foundation for the future proliferation of a comprehensive educational curriculum.
The new licensing system, designed and executed by CONCACAF’s Development Office and funded by the Confederation as part of its on-going commitment to the growth of the sport, will provide coaches from across the region with a valuable, internationally recognized license, as well as the tools to impart that knowledge at the local level.
Experts in coaching/player development are leading the instruction of the D License training course, which consists of educating coaches in the following areas: the principles of coaching, the adequate training by age, the fundamentals of planning training sessions, physical training, health and security, the development of community clubs, among other components of coaching football.
TTFA President Raymond Tim Kee said the TTFA was grateful for the opportunity to have three of its coaches broaden their knowledge on coaching.
“This is an excellent initiative from Concacaf and the TTFA supports it. The three coaches we have sent are among those we believe can be of value to our association’s coaching development program,” Tim Kee said.
“They are all involved in coaching and working with our players at a national level and with our coaching license program. We are quite optimistic that their participation will bring additional benefits to our overall development program,” he added.
