14 coaches have completed Part One of their AFC/FA B-Licence Coaching Course, held by Capital Football’s Acting Technical Director Phil Booth and Canberra United Assistant Coach Ali Efe.
Hear about their experiences and what they hope to achieve with this new qualification.
Fabian Miceli
Fabian is currently the Under 16s Head Coach for the Western Sydney Wanderers. He requires a B or to be sitting a B, to be part of the Wanderers Academy.
He says is really loving the opportunity to advance his learning.
“It’s very hands on and not much theory which I think is the best way to learn football. No longer do you need to be a computer ace to be graded as a competent coach and this is the best thing. Phil [Booth] is a great teacher and the class has been very responsive to his teaching and feedback.
“Football is my love and I am hungry to keep learning more and more.”
Rob Illingworth
Rob is the Head Coach at ANUWFC (SL1) but in the new year will likely be taking on a new role as the club’s Technical Director.
Rob says the knowledge and experience he’s gaining, as well as the exposure to other coaches, their styles and other clubs in the Canberra community is very beneficial.
“The course is very different to expectations, but in a good way. In some ways it has completely reframed the way I feel we’re expected to approach coaching, but in a way that I think is far more intuitive and aligned to how we would organically approach it.
“I’d like to see how far I can go in terms of making a living in football/sport. Coaching is a part of that for sure and where I’ve had the most joy so far, but it’s a steep climb and a hard career. I’d like to go on to do my A-License and look to start making a career out of football.”
Angelo Zaris
Angelo is the Under 23s Head Coach at the Monaro Panthers, and is undertaking the B Licence course so he has the tools and licence level to continue his goals of being a top level coach.
“The course is different to what I thought it would be. I thought we would be more looking at Game training and pattern of play in game training. Getting the next level of tools on how to break down the other team. In saying that I am enjoying the course.”
Stephen Cox
Stephen is currently working with Radford College as their Under 13s Head Coach and the Under 12s Development Squad (Div 1) Head Coach. He is also the outgoing Technical Director for the Belwest Foxes.
He says he wants to develop as a coach to push and test himself, so that he can work in a full time paid job in football, coaching at the highest level possible that his skills and qualifications will allow.
In saying that though, his focus at the moment remains on developing juniors, supporting his children and trying to keep as many kids playing football as possible by developing a lifelong love of the game.
“The B licence course will allow me to develop as a coach by providing me with more knowledge, to better enable me to develop my players and coaches at my club.
“I was not entirely sure what to expect on the course as it was new but the focus on behaviours, I can see is worthwhile as looking at professional high level matches these are the behaviours I can see in and will use to teach my players/coaches.”
Justin Wild
Justin in the Coach of the Albury Hotspurs Women (Div 1 and Div 2) teams and the
Albury Wodonga Football Association – U16 girls representative team.
Justin says he hopes this will make him a better coach, which will transfer into making better players.
“While I am often really out of my comfort zone, I love it. I could do this every weekend if I could.
“I just want to be the best coach I can. In Albury, opportunities are limited but if my daughter wants to make it (she has potential to go far – she is 14) she will have to move within a couple of years probably so who knows about the future and where I end up.
Illya Mastoris
Illya has two head coaching roles at the moment, with the Under 15s at Marist and in 2022, will also become Head Coach of Belconnen United Football Club’s Under 14s squad.
Illya says the collaborative nature of the course allows him to feel more connected and engaged.
“The B Licence has already given me an insight into some of the details that are required to take my coaching ability up another level. The thought process behind a session, it’s no longer about X’s and O’s but the why, the how as well as the when’s and where’s. The depth in thought is more rounded and more complete. I am already looking at the fundamental structure of my sessions to make the most complete sessions that I can.”
David Ruberto
David is the Under 14s and Under 15s NPLW Canberra Olympic Head Coach and the U10s, U11s and U12s girls Olympic aKIDemy Junior Head Coach
David is loving the opportunity the B licence provides, to express views and interpret the way football should be played.
“The B licence provides me a greater understanding on improving the individual in the team and working on player behaviour and mechanics to achieve an outcome. Greater understanding on recognising behaviours and how to improve and influence player behaviour so the team can play my style of football.
“At the moment I want to continue with SAP and being a link from SAP to NPLW at Olympic. For the future I want to be involved with CF TSP sides and very much look forward to taking a side to Nationals one day.”
Adrian Harris
Adrian’s current role is as the NPL Boys U 13’s Head Coach, and the assistant club TD.
He says the B license allows you to look at football with a second lens and gives you more understanding of the football moments to put in his back pocket to reproduce on the field to educate and make better players.
“Professionally the B will enable me to move up into the TD role, if that’s a step I want to take. My current question is: am I good enough to do that?
“My thoughts on the B licence, is this is clearly a change. I think it equips us to look at football with a second lens that we can apply to our internal movie reel. Growth can only occur when we are outside our comfort zone.”
