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In keeping with their commitment to improving the level of the CUC Primary Football League (PFL), sponsors Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC) and the PFL Committee recently teamed with the Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) to host the first-ever training course for PFL coaches, parents and volunteers.

The 10-hour PFL Coaches Training Course was based on FIFA’s Grassroots Programme and was facilitated by Marcos Tinoco, CIFA’s General Manager and a FIFA Grassroots Instructor.

The training course, which took place at the George Town Primary School, focused primarily on core areas of the Grassroots Programme including the philosophy of Grassroots Football, FIFA Fair Play Code, the coach-educator, the basic techniques, the characteristics of children, the educational approach, the Grassroots football session, example exercises, small-sided games and field and material preparation.

In addition, a review of the PFL Laws of the Games was included in one of the sessions.

The course concluded on Saturday, September 22 at the Annex Field with a practical session for participants. On this final day, under the guidance of Mr. Tinoco, participants incorporated some of the skills, techniques and drills they learned during the course as they worked with Under 11 and Under 12 players from the PFL Youth Programme and the Cayman Prep School.

Following the various drills with the youngsters, course participants came together and enjoyed a 30-minute”camaraderie” session with Mr. Tinoco that included stretching, fun games and a short, small-sided football game.

“The partnership between CIFA, CUC and the PFL Committee to offer the training course for PFL coaches, parents and volunteers is the first step towards re-launching CIFA’s Grassroots Programme later this year,” said Jeffrey Webb, President of CIFA. “One of our main focusses going forward will be on grassroots football, and I am thankful that we are able to work with CUC and the PFL Committee in this regard.”

With the success of this training course and the assistance of various associations, CUC and the PFL Committee have plans to incorporate more courses in the future including a referees course and first-aid course as they strive to improve the PFL on and off the field and youth football in general.