Licence requirements cause headaches for National Premier League coaches By CRAIG KERRY Feb. 28, 2014, 10 p.m.
NORTHERN NSW Football is likely to reassess the need for National Premier League first-grade coaches to have a B-licence for 2015 after a challenging and as yet incomplete process to get them up to C-licence level for this season.
Promotion-winning coach Glen Chapman, (now at Broadmeadow), 2013 coach of the year David Tanchevski (Lambton Jaffas) and Edgeworth’s Gary Wilson and Robert Jovanovski do not have the required C-licence for the inaugural NPL season, which starts in five weeks.
Chapman and Tanchevski have completed the theory part of the licence course, which was held over six weekends late last year, but both have practical aspects they are yet to complete to the satisfaction of NNSWF technical director David Smith.
Wilson, who is suspended for the first eight weeks of the season, and Jovanovski did not attend the course, but Edgeworth supremo Warren Mills said the pair needed only to ‘‘top-up’’ their existing accreditation, which would happen in the coming weeks.
However, Edgeworth technical director Jim Foley, who has a B-licence, appears set to stand in as coach. The dual role is allowed under the rules for the new competition, which has replaced the NNSW State League.
Charlestown’s Shane Pryce, Hamilton’s Michael Bolch, Lake Macquarie’s Gary Rowe and South Cardiff’s Greg Asquith earned their C-licence in the off-season. Adamstown’s Anthony Richards and Weston’s Steve Piggott already have a B-licence.
NNSWF operations manager Alan Nisbet was confident those close to finishing their course would complete the program before the season started.
A jump to B-licence standards for next season was slated, but most coaches told the Herald the course, which involves a $3000, two-week intensive program at the AIS in Canberra, was a bridge too far for ‘‘part-time’’ coaches earning far less than their metropolitan counterparts.
‘‘I was happy to do the C-licence and get a qualification, but to do the B-licence, it puts lot of pressure on your family and work situation,’’ Tanchevski said. ‘‘Being a part-time coach and not even being paid a part-time wage to coach, it’s unrealistic.’’
Chapman agreed: ‘‘We’ve got jobs as well and we’re not being paid at a professional level to coach.’’
Nisbet said NNSWF would review the need for B-licence benchmarks for 2015.
‘‘It could be that we may need to sit back a bit and take a look at it again,’’ he said.
The federation was working hard to ensure all coaches in all grades were up to standard.
‘‘We are working closely with clubs now in regards to the lower-grade requirements and we’ve put on some extra courses for them,’’ Nisbet said. ‘‘It’s still our intention to make sure they all comply with it, but it’s obviously a big exercise.’’
● Only five NPL clubs are likely to start their State Cup campaign tomorrow after games at Lisle Carr Oval were postponed due to rain.
At Weston Oval, Broadmeadow take on Thornton from 11am, the Jaffas play Belmont-Swansea at 12.30pm and Hamilton meet Singleton at 2pm. Weston play Adamstown at 3.30pm.
State Cup games this weekend have replaced the annual Charity Shield fixture. All funds raised from the weekend games go to the Hunter rescue helicopter service.
What are people's thoughts on this? Initially coaches who didnt have their licence weren't supposed to coach.
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Originally Posted by football_macigian23
