They have come together to learn and exchange a new set of coaching skills to pass on to the players at their clubs and schools in a FIFA Grassroots Coaching Course.
The goal of the gathering is to raise the understanding of the importance of grassroots football and to equip the participants with the knowledge to organise age-appropriate activities for children aged six to 12.
It is being conducted by OFC player development officer Daniel Shirley with the assistance of CIFA development officer Tuka Tisam and is being attended by a wide range of participants, all of whom play an active role in grassroots football in their various clubs and schools.
The four-day course commenced on Sunday with an opening ceremony where the participants were welcomed by CIFA president Lee Harmon.
“We are grateful to FIFA for supporting the grassroots development in the Cook Islands through this coaching course and to course instructor Daniel Shirley, thank you for accepting our request to come down to Rarotonga to facilitate this course,” he said.
Harmon was also keen to express gratitude to all the participants for taking time to include the course in their busy schedule.
“To the participants, you are all special due to the fact that you are the first point of contact and communication to our young footballers,” he said.
“I urge you all to grasp a lot from this coaching course and pass this on to future footballers within your various clubs, primary schools and communities.”
The content of the course will include theoretical sessions on the development of players and its importance while the practical sessions will involve training and a festival with children from the Takitumu Primary School.
More than 20 people from around Rarotonga are attending the course which concludes on Thursday with the participants putting what they have learned into practice at the festival.
For more on Cook Islands football go to www.cookislandsfootball.com

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