The German Football Association’s coaching courses
The training courses for coaches organized by the German Football Association (DFB) have proven to be extremely effective in developing coaching skills. On behalf of the German Foreign Office, the DFB holds courses several times a year for coaches from developing countries, who in turn pass on the skills learned to football enthusiasts in their home countries.
Among the course graduates are Pitso Mosimane, currently head coach of Bafana Bafana, the South African national football team, and Grâce Nyinawumuntu, who coaches the Rwandan women’s national squad.
Enlarge image
Listening carefully
(© German Football Association)
The DFB has since 1976 held over 30 coaching courses, lasting for several weeks, on behalf of the German Foreign Office. Experienced football trainers and DFB experts on football abroad teach at the Koblenz and Hennef Sports Academies. The courses are held in English or French, and successful participants receive A, B or C coaching licences. The certificates are ceremonially handed over by the German embassies in the participants’ home countries.
The courses are aimed at coaches from developing countries who have the necessary coaching and language skills. The coaches are introduced to modern training methods and techniques and visit training sessions at German clubs, thus gaining an insight into German sport and club structures. The coaches then go on to help promote recreational sport as multipliers in their home countries.
Recent success stories include Pitso Mosimane and Grâce Nyinawumuntu
In 2007 Mr Mosimane graduated from the DFB international coaching course and, as head coach, is trying to lift the South African national team to new heights. He is also involved in a football project in Alexandra, a township in Johannesburg, aimed at making children and young people more aware of health care and the danger of HIV/AIDS.
Women’s football also benefits from the DFB/German Foreign Office coaching courses. In 2007 Grâce Nyinawumuntu successfully completed the C licence course and now coaches both the AS Kigali team and, as the first female coach, the Rwandan national women’s squad.
The German-trained coaches provide major support to their national associations’ efforts to improve their countries’ coaching structures. Courses will be held this year, too: in May and September, a large number of motivated coaches will again receive training in Germany.
