Tahitian coaches took the opportunity to learn new ways of teaching football to people living with disabilities this week.
The two-day course ran from June 2-3 at the Fédération Tahitienne de Football (FTF) headquarters.
The event taught coaches about certain football practices to ensure people with reduced mobility could be included in ordinary environments.
Facilitated by FTF Technical Director Patrice Flaccadori and a representative from Tahiti’s federation for disabled athletes there were also footballers present from schools and associations.
Flaccadori said disability inclusion had been one of the main focuses for the game in Tahiti.
“We were unable to carry out the coaching disability course last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are thrilled to be able to this year,” he said.
“We put our coaches in real situations with the participants to put what they learned in the course into action.
“For us as a federation this was a way for us to continue our fight against social exclusion and differences.”
FTF have also committed to other initiatives such as Handifoot days which run annually and were created in 2009 from FIFA’s ‘Football for Hope’ social development programme.
Handifoot aims to integrate players with disabilities by taking them through different football activities.
Earlier this year in March, more than 60 young people aged 6 to 18 took part in the Handifoot initiative.
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