Shavon Douglas (left) joins his colleagues at the CONCACAF D License course in St Kitts on Thursday.
BASSETERRE, St Kitts & Nevis – Personal technical and educational development is the only way grassroots coaches can truly shape the future generation of youth players, says Shavon Douglas.
The 35-year-old took part in CONCACAF’s D License coaching course this week in St Kitts & Nevis.
“This is a great opportunity,” Douglas, an international footballer in the early 2000’s before becoming an assistant national technical director in 2006, told CONCACAF.com. “The course has helped me identify an approach to resolving personal conflict with the junior players, provided steps on comprehensive planning that enable the successful execution of youth sessions.”
An experienced coach, Douglas has been on the sidelines for 13 years and is currently directing the Youth and Experience junior team in St. Paul’s, St Kitts. Despite already possessing substantial knowledge, he welcomed the additional principles and resources that the course offered.
“This is valuable information for any coach who does not want to fall victim to not developing and learning emerging trends as the game evolves quickly,” said Douglas, who graduated from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. “Football has created tremendous avenues for personal growth, development and exposure. I want to share some of what I was able to achieve through football.”
Twenty-two coaches attended the four-day program conducted by CONCACAF instructors Anton Corneal of Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica’s Andre Waugh.
“We see these programmes as foundations for the eventual delivery on the goals in the strategic plan for the SKNFA,” said St. Kitts & Nevis Football Association President Stanley Joseph. “Developing youth and educating coaches are plans at the core of the plan and with CONCACAF’s continued assistance we can achieve the objectives.”
