Students at Beenleigh State High School recently gained a grounding in football coaching as part of Football Queensland’s involvement in the State Government’s Get Active Queensland Accreditation Program (GAQAP).
GAQAP enhances the opportunity for curriculum and extra-curriculum sports activities to be offered in schools by providing free accreditation courses to applicable students, teachers and volunteers.
SWQ Thunder Technical Director Salvatore Sottile conducted the day-long course for over a dozen students who all completed a Grassroots Football Certificate.
Sottile said he was delighted by the group’s enthusiasm for coaching.
“They were really passionate in the sessions and want to get involved not only as players but also in coaching,” he said.
“Most of the boys already played football so it was probably easier for them to understand it than most of the staff.
“Normally you get a mix of teachers and when I do similar things for clubs you have parents involved. This time it was only students, it was something unique.
“I did an extra hour because I saw how much interest they had.”
In addition to football coaching, Football Queensland also conducts GAQAP courses across the state in officiating and futsal coaching.
Sottile believes it is important for the sport to be active in schools beyond just player participation.
“We are trying to get more kids involved in coach education and improving their knowledge of football,” he said.
“They can learn a lot as a young coach and I’m sure some of them will love going to the next level, the Skill Training Certificate. It looks like most of them will progress to that next level in the future.”