GFF TD rolls out Next Generation Project, four year Technical Dev. Plan

Apr 23, 2015 Sports

– the player centered approach would be adopted

By Franklin Wilson
The holistic development of Guyana’s football is taking shape with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Technical Director Claude Bolton yesterday unveiling the Next Generation Project which is an all encompassing

GFF TD Claude Bolton makes a point in the company of Assistant GS Diedre Davis.

document.
According to the document which was presented in snippet form by Bolton yesterday at the GFF Headquarters in the company of Assistant General Secretary, Diedre Davis, the technical plan forms part of the Next Generation Project which is an initiative that simplifies and articulates clearly the next steps that are necessary for the development of the next generation of player, coach, club, fan, corporate partner, association and federation.
Bolton clearly articulated that the endeavor places at the vanguard of Guyana’s football development the areas of grassroots, youth, women, beach, futsal and coaching education.
The new TD who took up the challenge to set Guyana’s football on a solid foundation for the future started work at the end of January this year and has since met with all the GFF associations to outline his vision for the sport.
“As a developing nation FIFA has mandated that we start to conduct programmes that put grassroots, women, youth and coaching development at the forefront of everything we do,” Bolton explained.
Given the vastness of Guyana, it would be a challenge for the federation to service all the associations individually. To counter this challenge, the Next Generation Project will see the introduction of the GFF District Alignment.
District 1 will be known as the North West which will have four associations – Essequibo, Bartica, West Demerara and Georgetown. North East comprises of Upper Demerara, East Bank, East Demerara and Berbice, while the South has one association, Rupununi.
The district divisions would be used to deliver and monitor player and coaching development programming. Both districts in the north will host a set of Academy Training Centres (ATC) determined by the number of associations, population, and need within a district.
The South District will begin with one ATC with the anticipation of growing that number as its footballing structure evolves.
Women’s football, which would be a high priority, will see the introduction of a Women’s Development League (D-League) that will be a precursor to a full Women’s League within a 2-year period. Bolton explained that in order to prepare for this league’s implementation, the identification of potential coaches, managers, male club partners, and existing female groups have already begun.
The resuscitation of the GFF Women’s Committee will take place and a precursor to that would see a Women’s Workshop and Conference being held to understand the challenges of attracting women to the sport.
The Women’s D-League will allow a humble foray back into international competition with the aim of entering an event, if not qualification for external tournaments in 2016.
Youth Development Officers (YDO) will be employed to spearhead the spreading of youth development programmes throughout the country with a view of creating an environment that will nurture responsible and ethical and professional growth.
Bolton also shared that the YDO’s will be mentored as future Golden Jaguars National team Coaches who will be considered for roles with youth national teams.
National Youth Academy Training Centres according to the Next Generation Project would be established in selected associations to allow for the YDO’s to deliver the GFF curriculum more consistently, to a greater number of players throughout the year and country.
The GFF, Bolton said, would be able to finance the YDO right now but the hope is that over time, Corporate Guyana can step up and fill that role. If for some reason sponsors do not fulfill their role, the federation will run shorter programmes to suit.
National Youth Leagues at the Under-15, 16 and 17 levels would also be organised and rolled out within the next 12 months. All the promoters and organisers of youth football including Digicel, Petra, GSDF and Scotiabank have been approached with a view of having a more structured approach.
Bolton stated that the Under-12 age group will be the most important for the national federation.
Grassroots programmes would be done for between 8 – 10 weeks twice yearly and not the one-day programmes that have been the norm in the past.
Recognizing that Coaching development directly influences players development, the GFF will create, formally, a National Coaching License structure that can support and sustain a minimum coaching level. The coaching License Pathway will see the A, B, C, D, School’s Certificate and Elite League Module.