After four days of training workshops at the Millennium Institute of Sport, technical directors and development officers from 11 Pacific nations were able to put theory into practice by coordinating the festival at Rosedale’s Pinehurst School.
Glenn Turner, FIFA Development Officer for Oceania, says it was a fitting way to end the successful seminar.
“It’s very exciting because this is really the first time we’ve been able to come together as a Development Office and Confederation to promote grassroots,” said Turner.
The course participants went through every aspect of organising grassroots events, from what games to play on the field to planning activities off the field.
Tonga Football Association Technical Director Kilifi Uele says he learned useful tools on how to build awareness.
“The most important thing is to plan well,” said Uele.
“Then you have to work closely with your colleagues to ensure the plan is communicated to journalists, to clubs, to sponsors and to the wider community.
“It’s about keeping all stakeholders involved so that ultimately the kids will benefit by having more opportunities to play the game.”
During the concluding festival, children at Pinehurst School took part in small-sided games before having the chance to meet former All White James Bannatyne as well as Football Ferns Jenny Bindon and Hannah Wilkinson who head to Texas today with their New Zealand teammates to play two international friendlies against USA.
OFC Technical Director Patrick Jacquemet, who led the course along with Didier Chambaron and Daniel Shirley, says it is important to involve role models whenever possible.
“We need to build the player base for both boys and girls so we have given the participants ideas on how to do that,” said Jacquemet.
“If the talent is nurtured at the grassroots level then in a number of years it will have real benefit for the U-17s, the U-20s and the national teams.”
The course is part of a recently developed grassroots strategy designed by FIFA Technical Director Jean-Michel Bénézet.
Glenn Turner says the grassroots programme will compliment and build on the successful Just Play initiative, which kicked off in 2009 with funding support from the Australian Government and UEFA.
“Over the past three years OFC has rolled out Just Play across the Pacific, which has given thousands of kids aged 6-12 their first taste of football and provided teachers with tools to organise grassroots activities,” said Turner.
“The initiative has targeted schools and focused on social development, but we are now finding a way to take that step forward in linking it with a technical development programme.
“With the fantastic resources from FIFA, we will be able to provide a more structured pathway for players than we’ve ever seen before.”
The technical directors will stay on in Auckland for a FIFA Performance Seminar at Novotel Hotel in Greenlane from 8-10 February, also involving Presidents and CEOs from each of OFC’s 11 Member Associations.

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