The Tribune

THE genesis of the Bahamas Football Coaches’ Association (BFCA) is perhaps equal to that of the game itself in the Bahamas. From the very outset, you had a ball, a team (players) and, of course, a coach.

It is from that same simple DNA that the BFCA was born. A few years ago, during a FIFA-sponsored CONCACAF training session, a number of coaches were challenged to raise the bar of coaching in the Bahamas. At first, the idea was not well embraced as many coaches were able to find and justify reasons why this could not happen.

On the other hand, there were a few to whom the idea of a coaches’ association made sense and so, during side conversations at various coaching seminars offered by the Bahamas Football Association (BFA), some of those Bahamian soccer coaches decided to create an association in order to provide higher standards in youth football development.

The local governing body for football (BFA) got wind of what was developing and encouraged the idea by providing official sanctioning and made available meeting space for the would be pioneers.

The executive steering board was comprised of an array of coaches that have competed in various disciplines both locally and internationally, inclusive of working with disabled athletes. Currently, the BFCA is headed by President Antoine Dias (FC Nassau), VP Gilbert Williams (Cavalier FC), VP Jason Minnis (United FC), Secretary Dion Godet (IM Bears) and Treasurer Anika Smith (FC Nassau).

It is generally accepted that football has not reached its full potential in the Bahamas. In order to reach the next level and thereafter at the international level, we need to develop better coaching methods and better coaches that would in turn foster greater technical development amongst our younger athletes. The BFCA is working hand in hand with the BFA to ensure that all clubs and teams have a minimum of one ‘D’ licenced coach per team.

It is also the vision of the BFCA to offer young players every possible opportunity to play against international teams and to facilitate the possibility of travel to international football camps and to participate in tournaments. At the end of the day, the BFCA will stand in partnership with the local football association and its offspring clubs and teams to assist with growing the game of soccer via the development of career coaching, track and structured programmes which will allow coaches to achieve various coaching licences or badges and to be involved in continuing education locally. Just how schools need certified teachers, the sporting community needs certified coaches and the BFCA’s mandate is to get coaches certified to higher levels in all clubs and schools for all age levels.

We have already begun the journey of a thousand miles with a small step this past January when the BFA technical director Trevor Rolle (A USSF ‘B’ licenced coach) and the BFCA president Antoine Dias attended the world’s biggest coaches’ convention in Philadelphia, which was organised by the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America). The exploratory team made lots of contacts with football coaches from around the world and as a result, a NSCAA coaching seminar will be hosted in the Bahamas May 28 to June 1, 2014.

The BFCA has also been charged with developing a position paper on how to ensure that we guard against poaching of players from fellow clubs and (per the BFA) been deemed the official “watchdog” and disciplinary body concerning the behaviour and ethical values of local coaches.

The BFCA also intends to be a bridge to provide those scholar athletes with information and direction on how to be recruited for college scholarships. Finally, the BFCA will be the doorway for all future national development programme coaches and national team coaches.

The combined effort of the BFCA and BFA will ultimately raise the standard of coaching within The Bahamas. As a new association we would like to encourage those that wish to see the sport to grow, to assist by investing in the programme as a sponsor. For additional information you can contact the BFCA president Dias through their new website www.bahamasfca.com or the BFA via 322-4343.