PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Captain Horace Burrell is urging coaches across the island to get certified or leave the sidelines. Burrell made his comments while speaking at a recent coach’s graduation forum at the offices of the JFF.

The JFF boss outlined that the board of directors at the JFF at their last meeting mandated that effective September 1, 2014 all coaches must be in possession of a JFF coach’s licence in order to perform coaching duties in all preparatory and primary schools, parish leagues, Inter-Col and Women’s League.

“All head coaches and assistant coaches must possess a JFF Level one certification or its equivalent,” he said.

He went on to state that all head and assistant coaches at the Premier League and high school levels must possess a JFF Advance Level two certification in order to continue their duties.

The licensing period runs from September 2014 to August 31 2016, and will be renewable every two years.

“Before the licence can be renewed all coaches will be required to do eight hours of refresher courses per year beginning 2014. At least four hours must be JFF conductor course,” said the man in charge.

The coaches will be required to pay a registration fee of $5,000 within a certain time span in order to maintain a smooth transition. This includes the already 600 certified coaches.

The registration process for the 600 coaches already certified, has already started and ends on March 31, 2014. The registration period for additional coaches who will be trained in February and August 2014, will be advised at a later date.

The president in congratulating the graduates reminded them that in order to teach a sport you first have to learn it.

“No sport can improve without significant attention to the knowledge base of coaches, and you coaches will have to impart your knowledge to the players who are under your command.”

“Today I really want all of you to understand that you are graduating as qualified coaches because of the role played by Professor Morrison in inviting the JFF to partner with his noble institution,” he added.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), University of Technology (UTech) and Jamaica Money Market Brokers’ Joan Duncan Foundation, initiated a coaching school programme which has so far seen some 500 coaches being certified since its inception in 2009. Last year’s programme started with 73 participants but only 71 were certified at the graduation ceremony.