As many as 28 women will participate in the World Coaches Course of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) starting on April 15.
DOHA: As many as 28 women will participate in the World Coaches Course of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) starting on April 15.
The course is made possible by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Qatar and the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee (QWSC). The course is specifically designed for women, empowering them to increase their impact as a coach and trainer at the football field and beyond.
The World Coaches course provides a broad skills training for coaches, PE teachers and sports professionals. The KNVB believes that football is about much more than technique, tactics and rules.
Johan van Geijn, Expert for international CSR partnerships and World Coaches at KNVB, explains: “Football is about collaboration and communication. And it is also about fair play, respect for diversity and dealing with frustrations. We can teach these social skills to our children in a fun way through sports, but of course it will benefit them in all aspects of their life.”
The Royal Netherlands Football Association has been implementing coaching the coach programmes around the world since 1997 and developed the World Coaches project in 2009.
Worldwide, there are now more than 12,500 World Coaches, with 25% female coaches.
“This percentage has to increase so that women have equal chances to become better coaches” according to Van Geijn.
The participants will get an intensive five-day introductory training towards becoming a World Coach. During the week, they will practice their new skills with the young football talents of Evolution Sports Qatar.
The female participants will meet an experienced team from the KNVB, including the coach of the National Dutch Women’s indoor football team, Marius Privee, and two former players for the Netherlands national women’s football team, Anouk Hoogendijk and Gilanne Louwaars. The Dutch women’s team won the European Championships last summer and is preparing to shine at the Women’s World Cup in France in 2019.
H E Ambassador Dr. Bahia Tahzib-Lie is excited about the all-women World Coaches course in Qatar.
“I believe that sports has the power to connect people from all walks of life and different cultures. This is what World Coaches is about. The World Coaches program in Qatar will directly benefit the empowerment of the female coaches.
But they will also become true mentors and role models for other women in sports, all the children in the teams they coach and the wider community.”
The Ambassador is grateful for the cooperation and support of the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee in bringing World Coaches to Qatar.
H E President of QWSC Mrs. Lolwa Al Marri commented: “At the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee we are happy to host the first World Coaches course of the KNVB in Qatar. The women’s sports sector in Qatar has developed at a rapid speed, and this course will help female coaches to have an even bigger footprint.
“The enthusiastic reactions from the participants from all backgrounds show that these women are ready to step up and invest in their love for sports.”
“I believe that working together with the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) comes within the framework of the strong friendship and co-operation between Qatar Women’s Sports Committee and Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands by exchanging experiences and enhancing communication between the two countries.”
Sports bring people together.
Through World Coaches, the Netherlands and Qatar will strengthen their relations in football, benefiting both sides. The beautiful game of football can catalyse change in individuals, teams and whole communities. In celebration of this, there will be a closing ceremony on Thursday at 5 PM with the wider sports community in Qatar.
