A week-long training focused on upskilling local football coaches for the upcoming 2019 Youth and National League season began this week.

Organised by the Football Federation Samoa (F.F.S.) and Oceania Football Confederation (O.F.C.), the training was divided into two phases, engaging more than 20 participants from various local football clubs.

The first phase was held on Monday-Wednesday and focused on development of football at the grassroots level, with the second phase of the course focused on the youth level.

A statement released by F.F.S. stated the Head of the Oceania's Football Confederation's Women’s Football, Emma Evans was conducting the Course and she was pleased with the turn up from the local clubs. 

According to Ms. Evans, the workshop is on the youth coaching certificate focusing on the age group of 13-18. 

"We are looking not just at upskilling coaches but also providing them with knowledge and ensuring they are able to understand and identify the needs of players and look at ways to meet and address those needs," she said.

The feedback from local coaches and participants has been positive in terms of benefits of the Course in their roles to develop their understanding of football, the statement read.

"F.F.S. considers these Courses as very important in providing local coaches and aspiring coaches with professional experience as well as an opportunity to widen their skills so that they are able to pass on the same knowledge to their clubs. F.F.S. and its ultimate aim are to develop and widen the development and periphery of football into the villages.

"The week long course is part and parcel of F.F.S’s objective to develop skills of local coaches especially to meet the standards required of the sport. Well-informed coaches will be able to pass the same knowledge to the players and eventually recognize the pathway that football can provide as a professional sport and career platform."

Presentation of certificates concluded the project.