Australia: Thank your Coach - Suspense could be worse than Valentines Day

Great initiative from the FFA:

There's a few I'd like to...well shall we say not thank....but great initiative and I'll be waiting by my phone and facebook page all day.

Suspense could be worse than Valentines Day

On Saturday 30th October 2010 Football Federation Australia (FFA) will celebrate the Asian Football Confederation’s “Asian Coaches Day” by encouraging all current and former football players around Australia to get in contact with a current or former coach who has had a positive influence on their football development, whether by phone, text, email, facebook, twitter or in person, to thank them for their support

“Asian Coaches Day” will be observed throughout the region as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) celebrates 2010 as “Asian Coaches Year”.

FFA National Technical Director Han Berger is a firm believer that if Australia wants to be a world power in world football then we will need better coaches to produce better players.

“Sometimes the role that a coach plays in the development of a player goes largely unrecognised. Today we are asking everyone who is involved in football to say a simple thank you to the people who have helped them develop and enjoy their football experience.

“Alongside developing the technical ability of young players, developing the quality of Coaches in Australia is one of the spearheads of the National Football Curriculum.

“We are currently working to improve the technical level of coaches and offering opportunities to those that are interested at coaching at higher levels through our advanced coaching licenses.

“With the implementation of these initiatives, Australia is well placed to be a competitive player on the world stage,” concluded Berger.

There are an estimated 40,000 football coaches around Australia with the vast majority holding a Community or Advanced coaching license

This year alone, FFA has issued 8,443 Community and 198 Advanced Coaching licenses to successful candidates around the country.