JAMMU, Feb 1: The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC), in partnership with the KNVB Dutch Football Association, has inaugurated a Refresher Football Coaching Course in Jammu, representing a notable advancement in football development within the region.
For the very first time, the International Football Coaching & Life Skills Program has been implemented in Jammu & Kashmir, allowing 35 local coaches to take part in the KNVB World Coaches Program. This initiative significantly elevates the standards of football coaching in J&K.
The World Coaches Program, founded by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), has established a robust presence across India and its diverse states and union territories. The program focuses on nurturing football at the grassroots level by delivering structured training and promoting knowledge exchange with local coaches.
Kicking off on February 1, 2025, the five-day course is being held at Mini Stadium Parade, Jammu, with Dutch instructors Roger Schouwenaar and Raimond Massop leading the sessions. Both instructors possess UEFA-A Coaching Licenses and bring over two decades of international coaching experience spanning more than 40 countries.
This initiative is anticipated to bolster football coaching in J&K, and future collaborations between the Dutch Football Federation and the J&K Government are expected to promote the continuation and expansion of such exchange programs.
In its 15th year, the WorldCoaches Program has played a crucial role in enhancing football coaching globally, with nearly 20,000 coaches trained across 65 countries—over 30% of whom are women, a figure that is set to rise for improved gender representation in the sport.
Nuzhat Gul, Secretary of the J&K Sports Council, expressed her appreciation to the Dutch instructors for their efforts in organizing the course in Jammu. She highlighted that the innovative coaching methodologies and philosophies shared through the program will have a positive impact on athletes throughout J&K. She also stressed the significance of international partnerships in exposing local coaches to high-quality coaching practices.
