Student coach exchange off and running

UEFA's innovative coach education exchange programme resumes for the autumn with students from Croatia, Netherlands, Serbia and Slovenia coming to the House of European Football this week.

The course is the opening session in the second season of the scheme. The idea is to give pro-licence students the opportunity to have international exchange and access to UEFA, its tutors and educational materials. The course has proved a resounding success, with associations and participants welcoming the opportunity to gather and swap experiences and viewpoints.

Participants on each course represent three or four European associations and are guided by their respective coach education directors. UEFA appoints experienced tutors/coach educators to work with UEFA's football education services at each event, with members of the UEFA Jira Panel also actively involved alongside guest presenters.

The course offers discussion and debate, exchanges of views and practical training sessions at the Colovray stadium opposite UEFA's Nyon headquarters. Specific topics cover, among other things, the way that a coach handles crisis situations, mental fortitude under pressure and the various human qualities required to handle the media, supporter expectations and players.

A media session gives participants the chance to test their skills in the flash interview situation seen on television after a UEFA Champions League game, as well as showing them how to interact with, and react to, the written press, radio and TV.