Koevermans: Keep opposition in mind while organising a practice session

New Indian National Coach Wim Koevermans emphasized and demonstrated various match related situations both in theory and practical sessions as the AIFF Coaching Seminar gathered further shape in Navi Mumbai today.

"All practice sessions need to be organised keeping the opposition in mind. The players need to be taught and encouraged to express match related behavior while in practice," he stressed which the 65 participants took note of. "As Coaches, all of us need to develop our own concept and prepare likewise. The build-up stays the most integral part," Koevermans opined.

Koevermans who was speaking on 'How to play various systems?' often turned to the drawing board to explain what he was referring to. "The aim is to find that extra spare man in the midfield. You always have to find one – at any cost," he added, as he explained various formations and how to counter them on the field.

He backed all the theories with a practical demonstration later at the Father Agnel ground where the first AIFF Regional Academy is based.

Earlier in the day, Technical Director Rob Baan conducted another practical session – 'Skill Development -- from Technique to Tactics'.

Understanding that modern coaching needs to work hand in hand with Medical Science, there was a separate session conducted by Dr. Manabendra Bhattacharya, the AIFF's Medical Consultant. A sports medicine expert with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Bhattacharya made a presentation on 'Medical Care and treatment of Youth Players – including age verification', where he stressed monitoring of basic health parameters and emergency situations on the pitch.

He urged the coaches to be extra cautious in case of match related injuries and react immediately. "Medical Science teaches us that an off the ball collapse can lead to death within 180 seconds. So you need to react at lightning speed fast," he explained.

Dr. Bhattacharya felt extra care should be taken to immunize players and personal hygiene. "It's absurd that Indian clubs don't care about adult immunization at all. In most cases, players are contracted for an average 40 lakh on an annual basis but the clubs stay reluctant to immunize players for another Rs. 3000. In the process, the clubs lose the services of the players and football suffers," he maintained.

"Age verification is a very complicated process," he added. "It's mostly determined by secondary sexual characters, dental age and bone age, depending on the appearance and fusion of ossification centres which can be directed by X-rays and MRI tests."

He also had a detailed interactive session wherein he nullified many a false myth about women footballers.


The list of participants

Godfrey Pereira, Noushad Moosa, Kundan Chandran, Shaikh Arshad Hussain, Abdul Azim Siddique, Nirvan Shah, Aqueel Ansari, Khalid Jamil, Raghuvir Pravin Khanolkar, Augusto D'Silva, Faruk Ahmed, Mohammed Yusuf Ansari (all Maharashtra); Birbal Singh, Ekendra Singh, Bitan Singh (all Manipur); R. Thyagraj, Stanley Rozario, Thomas Joseph, John Kenneth Raj, Mastan Ahmed, P. Muralidharan (all Karnataka), Prasanta Banerjee, Gautam Ghosh (both West Bengal), Parthasarathy Thulasi, Syed Sabir Pasha, C.M. Ranjith (all Tamil Nadu); S. Geevarghese, C.J. Charles, P.M. Saji, Biby Thomas, Satheevan Balan, Feroz Sheriff, Narayana Menon (all Kerala); William Koso (Nagaland); Maymol Rocky, Marcus Anthony Pachecho, Francisco Bruto da Costa, Jude Barreto, Savio Medeira, Mario Aguiar (all Goa), Tarun Roy, Anadi Baruah (both Delhi); Sajid Yusuf, Hilal Parray (both J&K); Surinder Singh (Chandigarh)

Coaches from Clubs/Academies: Tanumoy Basu (Pailan Arrows); Bino George (Chirag United Kerala), Arun Pratap (Chirag United Kerala Academy); Deepak (Kerala FA Academy); Sujay Sharma, Arata Izumi (both Pune FC); Ahmed Aslam Khan (SAI, Bangalore); Mathew D'Costa, Gavin Araujo (both Dempo); Augustine Antao, Joaquim Crasto (both Salgaocar); Suren Chhetri, Pranai Subba (both United Sikkim FC); Richard Hood (Tata Football Academy); Manoj Kumar (SEPT, Calicut); Pradyuman Reddy (Shillong Lajong FC); Sunil Chaudhury, Cetano Pinho (both ONGC); Ajit Braich (Canada)