Module 2 of the AFC-JFA Pro-Diploma Course for Asian Elite Female Coaches, organised in association with the AFC, took place from 17-23 January. The course is an AFC Professional License course for female coaches, designed to develop individuals who can coach professional teams and provide leadership among female coaches.
The course, which started last October, consists of four on-site courses, online sessions and mentoring. 13 female coaches from AFC member associations and 7 from Japan are taking part in the course.

For Module 2, they attended the 14th Football Conference in Kumamoto on 18-19 January. The day after the conference, Mr. MORIYASU Hajime, Head Coach of the Japanese National Team, joined the course and discussed the topic of "Learning from mistakes". Ms. Susan Ronam, a FIFA Expert, also gave an insight into the current situation of female coaches in Europe.

In Miyazaki, they observed training sessions and matches at J-League clubs Fagiano Okayama, Kashima Antlers and Tokushima Vortis. All the clubs were kind enough to provide valuable information, such as the importance of pre-season and team building. Viamaterras Miyazaki had a great session for the community based on their city and the club's philosophy. The participants seemed to be thinking about how to apply and adapt these ideas to their own situation.

This module provided a lot of information to help the participants apply what they had learnt in their activities and gain more insight into different situations when they lead the team in the future.

Comments from Participants

Ms. Niloofar ARDALLANI (Islamic Republic of Iran)
I believe that during this course, beyond updating our football knowledge, gaining experience, visiting major clubs, and understanding how coaches manage their teams, we learned a crucial lesson: success comes from attention to detail. We also realized how important it is to choose the right path in life to achieve our goals.
As a mother and a representative of the girls and women in my country, I am committed to using everything I’ve learned to contribute to the growth and development of football in my country.

Ms. Chownee PHANLERT (Thailand)
I am very impressed with this course. All the instructors and staff are kind and supportive. Learning from the coaches at national team level, AFC and FIFA has giving me valuable experience, opened my mind to new ideas, and provided me with positive energy. The participants support each other, making the learning process enjoyable. The instructors and staff at JFA work professionally, given me the opportunity to learn and gain experience. I will improve myself to develop women’s football in my country and around the world if I have the chance.

Ms. SUZUKI Kana (Japan)
In Module 2, we attended a 14th Football Conference in Kumamoto and visited a professional clubs’ training camp in Miyazaki. At the Conference, we learned about youth development practices from around the world. During the camp visit, we had the opportunity to speak directly with the coaches and staff about how they plan their team and training sessions after practice. This was incredibly informative and inspiring. Given the substantial amount of input we received this time, I am eager to return to my team and effectively implement what I have learned.