JFF relaunches coaching education programme

KINGSTON: The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) marked a major milestone in the development of national football yesterday with the official relaunch of its coach education programme at the Jaguar Land Rover Showroom in Kingston.

The event brought together key stakeholders from across the football ecosystem, including coach educators, club representatives, sponsors, and Concacaf officials as the federation unveiled a modernised and structured licensing system aligned with international standards.

In a landmark announcement, JFF President Michael Ricketts confirmed that Jamaica has been officially approved as a C-Level member of the Concacaf Coaching Convention, making it the latest Caribbean nation to operate under a unified, regional framework for coach certification and development.

“This is a tremendous achievement for the federation, for our coaches, and for our country. It signifies that our coaching education and licensing systems now meet rigorous regional standards set by Concacaf, enabling mutual recognition of qualifications across member associations. This means our coaches will benefit from enhanced credibility, increased mobility, and wider professional opportunities throughout the region,” said Ricketts.

Speaking on behalf of Concacaf, Andre Waugh, coach education senior manager, applauded Jamaica’s achievement and the federation’s strategic commitment to long-term development:

“Jamaica’s admission into the Coaching Convention is both a reflection of the hard work done and a commitment to growth. This step elevates the national coaching structure, gives credibility to local certifications, and opens the door to more regional integration. Concacaf is proud to support Jamaica’s journey and looks forward to deeper collaboration in the years ahead.”

The newly implemented coaching licensing system will require all coaches in Jamaica to be licensed through JFF and to renew their credentials every three years through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The federation will track all licences and renewals through a centralised database in accordance with Concacaf regulations.

During the event, Andrew Peart, head of coach education, provided an overview of the licensing-renewal system and Jamaica’s compliance with Concacaf Convention requirements. He was followed by Laurence Garriques, coach educator, who detailed the operational processes for registration, certification, and licence renewal.

“This relaunch ensures that our coaching system is not only professional but also sustainable and internationally compliant,” said Peart.

Rudolph Speid, chairman of the JFF Technical and Development Committee, presented the strategic vision for the programme, outlining seven core goals to be achieved by 2028, including the launch of Jamaica’s first A-Diploma, the expansion of female coach representation, and partnerships with Concacaf and UEFA to introduce a pro diploma locally.

“We are building a coaching system that is structured, inclusive, and future-ready,” said Speid. “This is about more than courses. It’s about creating a technical culture of excellence.”

The JFF also used the occasion to recognise the contributions of its Coaching Education Task Force, partners from Concacaf, and lead sponsor J. Wray & Nephew, whose three-year commitment through the Wray & Nephew School of Football is expected to transform grass-roots and elite coaching across the island.