The Premier League has launched a new Community Coach Development Programme in collaboration with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to support the development of football at a grassroots level in Singapore.
The inclusive programme has been designed to upskill local community football coaches, delivering structured professional development which will enable the coaches to expand their provision within local communities and allow more people in Singapore to benefit from high-quality football coaching.
The new programme, designed specifically for Singapore, reinforces the Premier League’s ongoing commitment to the country, where it opened its first international office in 2019.
The first cohort of 34 coaches took part in three days of intensive training supported by coaches from the Premier League, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver fun, inclusive and engaging sessions.
The cohort included both male and female coaches aged between 21 and 69 from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Coaches were selected by the FAS to ensure the programme reaches individuals who will benefit most from the opportunity.
The week’s training programme culminated in a Community Showcase at the Kallang Football Hub on Saturday 24 May, which was attended by former Premier League players John Barnes and Joe Hart.
Also present were 80 local schoolchildren who were selected to take part by the People’s Association, giving the community coaches the opportunity to put the skills they have learned into practice.
The sustainable programme has been designed to have an ongoing impact on grassroots football in Singapore. The Premier League will continue to work with the participating coaches, providing knowledge-sharing and ongoing support for their professional development.
A review of the first delivery of the initiative will be conducted in collaboration with the FAS, with the aim of evolving the programme for future cohorts.
Premier League Director of Community Nick Perchard said: “We are delighted to launch this new Community Coach Development Programme in Singapore.
"This will significantly benefit coaches who are working in a community setting, providing them with structured training to support their development and helping them to fulfil their ambitions.
“The League has had an office in Singapore for more than six years and this programme builds on our existing commitments to the country.
"We are committed to using our reach to develop football at a grassroots level globally and provide unique development opportunities for coaches and young people who love the game.
“We thank the Football Association of Singapore and the People’s Association for their support in launching this programme, which offers structured training and professional development for the coaches, as well as providing a unique opportunity for the young players involved.
“We look forward to seeing how the local coaches take the skills they have learned on the programme back into their communities to make a long-lasting impact on grassroots football in Singapore.”
The Premier League has collaborated with the FAS to ensure the programme meets local needs in supporting the professional development of community coaches.
“We are proud to partner with the Premier League on this meaningful initiative that will help equip our grassroots coaches with international best practices, and also strengthen the foundation of football development across Singapore," said Chew Chun-Liang, Football Association of Singapore general secretary.
“We are especially delighted that our community partners, Passion Community Football, is also benefiting from this initiative.
“Better coaches lead to better players – and ultimately, a stronger football ecosystem, and we look forward to deepening this collaboration with the Premier League to continue driving towards those goals.”
Mohamad Nur, a participant of the Premier League Community Coach Development Programme, explained how he had benefited from the scheme.
“At the age of 69, I consider myself to be a good coach," Nur said. "But when I came into this programme, I found that I still had more to learn. My advice to the young coaches is to never stop learning and always strive to improve themselves.”
Hart hailed the adaptability of the programme that he saw. “It’s great to see the passion, energy and willingness to learn from the children and coaches on the Premier League Community Coach Development Programme," Hart, a Premier League champion in 2011/12 and 2013/14, said.
"When it comes to coaching, there is no one-size-fits-all approach – you need to understand who the coaches are, what motivates them, and how they can make the game fun for the players.”
The importance of coaching the coaches was highlighted by Barnes, who won two league titles with Liverpool.
“I think this is an excellent programme, and it’s good to see that the Premier League is not only coaching the children, but the coaches here in Singapore," he said.
"To develop football globally, we need to have local coaches involved to understand what’s happening on the ground.
“The Premier League is hugely popular, so it’s great that they’re here in collaboration with the Football Association of Singapore to empower Singapore’s coaches to help more young kids to enjoy football.”
