Qatar Foundation (QF) has announced its “Coaching the Coach” programme to provide mainstream football coaches, PE teachers and other personnel involved in sports delivery with the skills needed to train children with disabilities. Set to launch in August, the programme is now open for registration.
“One of the biggest barriers to inclusion of persons with disabilities in sports is lack of opportunities," said Dr Josélia Neves, professor and associate dean of social engagement, College of Humanities and Social Sciences at QF’s Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).
"With football fever in Qatar set to run at an all-time high in the coming months, there will be several opportunities to make the sport more accessible, whether it is in schools, clubs, parks, or fan zones, and I hope that the football coaching community will use these opportunities to create inclusive spaces that offer football for all,” Dr Neves said.
The coaching programme, offered as a partnership between QF's Ability Friendly Programme and the Translation and Interpreting Institute at HBKU will bring together theory and practice in a blended learning approach. Theoretical principles will be acquired with self-paced learning activities, followed by in-person practical sessions in which participants will be given the opportunity to interact with specialised trainers and children with special needs.
The full programme is divided into four levels and will kick off with the Bronze Level which will take place between August 21 to October 23, in a total of approximately 25 contact hours.
The goal of the Bronze Level course is to develop multi-skilled football coaches that are able to meet the needs of players with a range of impairments, use appropriate terminology and work closely with practitioners to be disability confident and plan a wide range of coaching sessions for disabled players.
Ryan Moignard, senior ASD/Special Needs Football Coach at QF, said: “If you want to challenge yourself and develop as a football coach, working around the inclusion environment is the best form to develop your skills and your mindset.”
According to Moignard, the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is a valuable opportunity for everybody involved in football, in Qatar, to use as a catalyst to improve accessibility to football.
The course fee is QR 2,940 and candidates will receive a certificate on completion.
"With football fever in Qatar set to run at an all-time high in the coming months, there will be several opportunities to make the sport more accessible, whether it is in schools, clubs, parks, or fan zones, and I hope that the football coaching community will use these opportunities to create inclusive spaces that offer football for all,” Dr Neves said.
The coaching programme, offered as a partnership between QF's Ability Friendly Programme and the Translation and Interpreting Institute at HBKU will bring together theory and practice in a blended learning approach. Theoretical principles will be acquired with self-paced learning activities, followed by in-person practical sessions in which participants will be given the opportunity to interact with specialised trainers and children with special needs.
The full programme is divided into four levels and will kick off with the Bronze Level which will take place between August 21 to October 23, in a total of approximately 25 contact hours.
The goal of the Bronze Level course is to develop multi-skilled football coaches that are able to meet the needs of players with a range of impairments, use appropriate terminology and work closely with practitioners to be disability confident and plan a wide range of coaching sessions for disabled players.
Ryan Moignard, senior ASD/Special Needs Football Coach at QF, said: “If you want to challenge yourself and develop as a football coach, working around the inclusion environment is the best form to develop your skills and your mindset.”
According to Moignard, the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is a valuable opportunity for everybody involved in football, in Qatar, to use as a catalyst to improve accessibility to football.
The course fee is QR 2,940 and candidates will receive a certificate on completion.