QF to launch inclusive football coaching program
In a bid to make football more accessible, Qatar Foundation is launching its “Coaching the Coach” program which aims to provide mainstream football coaches, PE teachers and other personnel involved in sports delivery with the skills needed to train children with disabilities. Set to launch in August, the program is now open for registration.
“One of the biggest barriers to inclusion of persons with disabilities in sports is lack of opportunities. With football fever in Qatar set to run at an all-time high in the coming months, there will be several opportunities to make the sport more accessible, whether it is in schools, clubs, parks, or fan zones, and I hope that the football coaching community will use these opportunities to create inclusive spaces that offer football for all,” said Dr. Josélia Neves, Professor and Associate Dean of Social Engagement, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) at Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).
The coaching program, offered as a partnership between QF's Ability Friendly Program and the Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII) at HBKU’S CHSS will bring together theory and practice in a blended learning approach. Theoretical principles will be acquired with self-paced learning activities, followed by in-person practical sessions in which participants will be given the opportunity to interact with specialized trainers and children with special needs.
The full program is divided into four levels and will kick off with the Bronze Level which will take place between August 21 to October 23, in a total of approximately 25 contact hours. The goal of the Bronze Level course is to develop multi-skilled football coaches that are able to meet the needs of players with a range of impairments, use appropriate terminology and work closely with practitioners to be disability confident and plan a wide range of coaching sessions for disabled players.
Commenting on the value this program can bring to coaches, Ryan Moignard, Senior ASD/Special Needs Football Coach at Qatar Foundation, said: “If you want to challenge yourself and develop as a football coach, working around the inclusion environment is the best form to develop your skills and your mindset. In mainstream football, the participants are similar in several ways, whereas in inclusive football, participant needs vary greatly and this, in turn, allows the coach to broaden their skills in terms of what they can offer.”
According to Moignard, the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is a valuable opportunity for everybody involved in football, in Qatar, to use as a catalyst to improve accessibility to football. “I personally think a large part of that responsibility lies on football coaches. If coaches can upskill themselves to cater to different needs and provide a supportive environment, then we can really bet on seeing the inclusive football scene transform past 2022.”
The course fee is QAR 2,940 and candidates will receive a certificate on completion.Due to limited spots early registration is encouraged; the registration deadline is August 18.
To register and learn more about the course, please visit this link.
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