Dhaka. April 4: With its recently launched third phase, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) not only focuses on the development of players and football infrastructure, but also on the development of instructors, referees and preparedness of everyone involved in the game, which is fundamental towards the development of football.

The Federation included “Coach Education & Development”, “Referee Development” and “Medical & Sports Science” in its 12 strategic pillars to lift the level of football in Bangladesh and meet global levels.

Phase 3 addresses issues that have typically been the obstacles overall football development in Bangladesh. These include coaches’ inability to foster youth development programmes and meet with the demands of coaching, lack of experts in key specialist areas and lack of coaches in specialised developmental areas (grassroots, youth or elite). Whatever number of coaches there were, did not fully appreciate modern training philosophies and methods that help each individual player reach their full potential.

Coaches are an important part of football. According to all the development plan models (Germany, Belgium, Iceland, Japan, Korea) that inspired the federation’s plan, developing the instructors’ ability is essential to developing the overall quality of the game. Developing the quality of coaching at national and grassroots level would lead to better players, which would result in success.

The federation plans to develop a coaching & education scheme involving a range of education and development opportunities for all coaches at all levels.

The third phase will be the time when the federation stresses on coaches education and development to make sure there are sufficient number of accredited instructors and coaches at all levels of the game. For that purpose, specialised courses and youth/senior courses will be provided for more qualified coaches. This is set to begin in 2017 and continue in order to make sure there is a constant flow of certified instructors corresponding with the increasing volume of players.

Grassroots coach education and development programmes have been undertaken to make sure that talented individuals are spotted even at the grassroots level who may be groomed for future.

Referees are also essential for the game. Without their participation and development, the game would falter. BFF has taken additional measures to ensure the development of referees, at the same time keeping up with the changes of the evolving game.

Development programmes and initiatives for referees have been prevalent across all levels of the game. This is an important area that needs further innovation, training and investment. Developing strategies to recruit new referees, retain existing referees and create support mechanism and educational opportunities for referees at all levels are among of the key objectives of the master plan.

Everyone involved with football require physical fitness and medical support whether they are players, officials or trainers. But it is absolutely indispensable for players. The third phase of the football development envisions periodic monitoring of players with latest methods of fitness and conditioning to ensure match fitness at the highest levels.

The game has seen some evidence of modern practices in medical and sports science but in order to take football to the next level, Bangladesh needs further resources for player welfare, elite development and modernised scientific approach.

As a result, BFF has developed policies and protocols at all levels of the game for medical practitioners. The federation also plans to provide training and education in players’ welfare, provide information and education opportunities in research, analysis and science.