JAMMU: The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council (JKSC), in collaboration with the KNVB Dutch Football Association, has launched a Refresher Football Coaching Course in Jammu, marking a significant step towards the development of football in the region.
For the first time, the International Football Coaching & Life Skills Program has been introduced in Jammu & Kashmir, with 35 local coaches getting the opportunity to participate in the KNVB World Coaches Program. The initiative is a major step in enhancing football coaching standards in J&K.
The World Coaches Program, established by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), has a strong presence in India and its various states and union territories. The program aims to develop football at the grassroots level by providing structured training and knowledge sharing with local coaches.
The five-day course commenced on February 1, 2025, at Mini Stadium Parade, Jammu, under the guidance of Dutch instructors Roger Schouwenaar and Raimond Massop. Both instructors, holding UEFA-A Coaching Licenses, bring over 20 years of international coaching experience across 40+ countries.
This initiative is expected to strengthen football coaching in J&K, and future collaborations between the Dutch Football Federation and the J&K Government are anticipated to sustain and expand such exchange programs.
The WorldCoaches Program, now in its 15th year, has been instrumental in developing football coaching worldwide, with nearly 20,000 coaches trained across 65 countries—over 30% of whom are women, a percentage that is expected to grow for better gender representation in the sport.
Secretary J&K Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul expressed gratitude to the Dutch instructors for organizing the course in Jammu. She emphasized that the latest coaching methodologies and philosophies imparted through the program will benefit athletes across J&K. She also highlighted the importance of international collaborations in providing local coaches with exposure to top-quality coaching practices.