FAI and WNT encourage grassroots club to get involved with new Uefa C License courses

Uefa have recently unveiled the launch of their C License course which will give even more coaches the opportunity to become Uefa certified coaches.

The Women's National Team are busy preparing for their upcoming friendly internationals, beginning this Thursday at Tallaght Stadium, but they took some time out to show their support for the programme and to encourage as many female coaches as possible to get involved.

Vera Pauw had a busy Saturday visiting both Cork and the UCD Bowl in order to take in WNL action, and her 24 women squad represents 10 different counties and 40 different grassroot clubs showing that the local game is pivotal to the development of a strong senior team.

This very senior team will take on Denmark on Thursday, before travelling to Belgium for an 18.30 kick off on Sunday.

Current Ireland captain Katie McCabe is currently studying for her B License course and took the chance to encourage as many people as possible to get on the coaching ladder.

"It is really important to all of the players in the Ireland Women's Team that we never forget those who have helped us to reach this level in our respective careers.

"Every player starts out at their local Grassroots club and goes from there. For me, it was Kilnamanagh AFC before moving on to Crumlin United, Templeogue United, St Joseph's, and then Raheny United. It is vital that the coaches at that level are given support to be the best that they can be and the UEFA C Licence will reward the hours that they put into it.

"There is fantastic work being done by the FAI Coach Education Department to continue to develop coaches, at all levels, who in turn help to develop players. So seeing this initiative happen indicates that Irish football is moving in the right direction in supporting Grassroots clubs."

While Niall O'Regan, who is the head of Coach Education at the FAI added: "Over the last number of years, UEFA have helped develop the profession of coaching to new lengths and it is now great for our Grassroots coaches to be able to experience and be certified with a UEFA Qualification.

"In the coming months, we will begin the process of delivering the newly created UEFA C Licence and UEFA Leaders Award which is directly aligned to our Club Mark programme and these UEFA Qualifications will be recognised as the pinnacle of Grassroots coach education here and throughout all convention countries in UEFA."



    About Gareth O'Reilly

    Gareth is the Editor of Extratime.ie. Gareth began as a normal reporter covering games all over Dublin before being asked to help out with behind the scene activities and eventually moving into the role of … View Full Profile