The course represents the first futsal course undertaken in American Samoa by the hugely experienced former Australian futsal representative. Gilligan, who coached the Australian National men’s futsal team between 2001-08, has previously run futsal coaching courses in the Solomon Islands, Tahiti, New Caledonia and Fiji.
The Project Manager for the ‘Win in Oceania’ Futsal development program is becoming a familiar figure amongst many Oceania football communities and was a technical advisor for the Solomon Islands’ men’s national squad that took part in the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2008 and likewise took on the same role with Tahiti during the OFC Futsal Qualifying Championship 2008 in Fiji.
He will serve as a technical advisor for the Solomon Islands again as they attend the Al-Fateh Futsal Confederations Cup in Libya from 5-11 October this year. At the course’s opening ceremony Gilligan told the participants that he believes that futsal will one day become even more popular than conventional eleven aside football but also pointed out the two codes are mutually beneficial.
“Futsal is also a fantastic tool to develop your football (soccer) skills,” Gilligan added.
FFAS President Iuli Alex Godinet officially opened the course minutes earlier, welcoming the 22 participants and introducing Gilligan to the class.
“We will have a futsal competition next year so what you learn here this week will be very useful to your clubs,” Iuli pointed out.
A FFAS men and women’s futsal competition has been penned for February and March, 2010.
Day one saw Gilligan held theoretical sessions on the role of the coach, planning, and rules of the game with the FFAS trainee coaches put through control and passing drills during practical sessions later that evening.
On Tuesday he instructed the course participants on specifically tailored physical conditioning regimes for futsal, skills training, and theory sessions on communication and discipline. That night more passing, dribbling and shooting skills instructions made up the practical lessons.
During the remainder of the week Gilligan will give seminars on risk management, basic safety, first aid, goal keeper drills, goal keeper restarts, attacking and defensive tactics. The final day of the course this coming Friday will see a day of examinations for the participants including a written exam and practical assessments before the course is officially closed.
Courtesy of FFAS Media