Coach Education
This well-known quote sums things up ‘perfectly’. Quantity of training is not enough, it needs to be quality training too. That is where good coaching comes in. Project Phoenix is about developing talented players into world-class footballers. This cannot be achieved without knowledgeable, enthusiastic and effective coaches. Therefore Coach Education lies at the heart of Project Phoenix.
I have been privileged in recent weeks to attend some of our Coach Education programmes including the launch of our Level 1 and Level 2 courses and yesterday I was honoured to present Course Completion Certificates at our AFC ‘C’ Licence course. Training the trainers is fundamental to our future success and I made this point when talking to both groups.
Hong Kong football needs a National Football Curriculum which is designed to ensure a systematic, coordinated and progressive approach to player development from the grassroots all the way to elite footballers. We will define a playing style based on modern football best practice and identify the core skills, techniques, tactics, physical conditioning and mental attributes that are required to play that way. We will also detail how and when these requirements will be introduced to players throughout their development. For example at the grassroots level the emphasis will be on learning the core foundation skills and techniques in ‘small-sided games’ that are based on fun and enjoyment rather than on competition and results. As players mature they will be introduced to higher level techniques, tactics, teamwork etc in a more competitive environment. Pathways will be put in place to identify the most talented players who will then receive additional training and high-level competition where the best play against the best.
This more systematic and scientific approach will be reflected in the coach education syllabus so that all coaches understand the style of play and can tailor their coaching sessions to the delivery of this approach. ‘Model’ coaching sessions will be provided to coaches to enable them to run programmes that are relevant to each age group and ability level.
It will take time to implement these changes and a little longer still for the results to come to fruition. It will be worth it in the end because to conclude with another quote….’it’s not what the coach knows, it’s what the players have learnt’.
If anyone aspires to be a football coach to help inspire and train the footballers of tomorrow, then please visit our website to find out how you can get involved in coaching. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
教練培訓課程
「訓練未必至臻完美，但完善的訓練必可達至完美。」
這句膾炙人口的名言道盡「完美」一詞，訓練量的多寡未必足夠，必須與訓練的質量相輔相承，因此優質的教練培訓基地總是門庭若市。「鳳凰計劃」是一套培訓具潛質球員達至世界級球星的完善計劃，但欠缺一位博學、熱心及有效率的名師指導，就難以一蹴而就，因此教練培訓課程可謂「鳳凰計劃」的命脈所在。
最近數周，本人有幸受邀出席我們舉辦的教練培訓課程，其中包括第一級別和第二級別的首個講座，前日我更有幸在AFC ‘C’ 級課程典禮上代表頒發畢業證書。培訓教練是我們未來成功的基石，這是我曾向在場人士所說的心底話。
香港球壇需要世界足球課程的輔助，即一套有系統、協調性及漸進式的訓練計劃，以幫助青年人逐漸成長為精英足球員，配合現代足球的流行訓練方式定義球隊的足球風格，而且個人技術、戰術、陣形部署、體能狀態以至精神面貌各方面得以全面提升，更可細緻設定球員在受訓期間的時限及項目要求。舉個例，草根球員主要集中訓練基礎技巧，並可以透過「小型足球」的遊戲方式享受箇中樂趣，而毋須追求競技結果。當球員不斷成長，他們要求的是講求高層次的技巧及團隊合作精神，其中有潛質的球員更會追加訓練量，以便角逐更高層次的競賽。
這套富系統化及科學化的方向已充分反映在教練培訓課程的大綱上，所有教練必須明白這些比賽風格以便制定一套最合適的培訓課程，而訓練模式的藍本亦會提供予各教練，以便讓教練為每個年齡組別及技術水平的球員制定一套適合的培訓課程。
改變並非一朝一夕，我們必須持之以恆，這絕對是值得的，正如以下總結：「我們並非著眼於教練認識多少，最重要的是球員可以從中學懂甚麼。」
如果任何人士希望從事足球教練一職，協助訓練本港的明日之星，請瀏覽香港足球總會網頁，查詢課程資料。
