The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation launched another one of its “C” License coaching courses, this time for coaches from the T&T Pro league and the TTFF National Super League, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Monday.
The course, under the vision of the Dutch KNVB, is one of several, according to TTFF technical adviser Keith Look Loy that is aimed at ensuring local coaches undergo the necessary development under the guidance of the Dutch, for coaching players throughout the country, particularly at the younger age groups.
Pete De Jong is one of the senior Dutch instructors attached to the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), and he has overseen the training of the six local instructors and the courses that have taken place thus far. He has performed a similar role with several coaches in Holland as well as in other parts of the world.
De Jong explained that there would be no negative effects in a situation where a country as T&T has gone the way of an extensive coaching education program under the Dutch vision but possesses a National Team coach from outside of the Dutch system.
“It is two different assignments. The first assignment is how to educate the youth players and educating them on how to deal with the problems of the game and the other assignment for the senior team coach is to qualify for a World Cup and for the 2014 World Cup in this instance.
It’s completely different and I think it’s not conflicting that you are hiring a coach from whatever country and then having the Dutch assist with your development in terms of coaching young kids and also educating your coaches. It has nothing to do with the style of football your national team is playing,” De Jong told TTFF Media.
Another 31 coaches graduated for a “C” license course last month and De Jong praised the efforts of the six TTFF instructors for their work so far.
“I am seeing more and more promise and also because the improvement of the coaches we have educated. I am here to get feedback on a continuous effort. And we are getting better and better results.
“My assignment from the beginning was to educate instructors on how to teach your coaches in the Dutch approach. I have seen a good understanding of the approach among the coaches and the participants.
The key of the Dutch approach is the youth development through simplifying methods which is related to the real game at a higher level.
Most of the time we start at the under six level and have a period of educating the players for ten years which makes it easier for them to make a transition of playing at a higher level and they can then adjust to the problems in a match.
"At the youth level we use organization on the pitch for all round development and for the senior players we organize the play itself to win matches.
We teach the coaches who can then coach the young players on how to solve the problems and play together… to break down the defensive strategy of the opponent to create your own scoring opportunities.
This in turn can help any player in any team regardless of what style of coaching there is at a later level,” De Jong added.