IFAF ‘education development program’ assists FCCA in hosting 1st annual coaches convention

Four current Canadian Football League coaches among convention presenters

With the help of funding from the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Education Development Program, the Football Canada Coaches Association (FCCA) will host the 2011 FCCA Coaches Convention April 2-3 in Burlington, Ontario.

Three current Canadian Football League (CFL) head coaches – Greg Marshall (Saskatchewan Roughriders), Marcel Bellefeuille (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and Marc Trestman (Montreal Alouettes) – will present at the two-day coaching development at the Corpus Christi Secondary School. Along with the CFL, coaches from high school and minor football, NFL and USA Football will speak at the convention.

Educating coaches, officials, administrators, development personnel and players at junior (19-and-under) and youth (15-and-under) levels is a primary focus for IFAF, the international governing body of American football worldwide. The cornerstone is the IFAF Education Development Program (EDP), which encompasses an evolving series of initiatives in order to benefit all IFAF members on multiple levels. By creating meaningful and sustainable initiatives, IFAF ensures a strong foundation is in place to support future growth and development.

“Football Canada is extremely excited in launching the first annual coaches convention supported by an incredible line up of coaches as presenters,” said RICK SOWIETA, Football Canada Director of Sport. “This is a clear continuation of our mandate to provide our coaches with professional development and resources.”

More than 100 coaches have already registered for the inaugural Football Canada Coaches Association (FCCA) Coaches Convention including schools such as the York Lions, Western Mustangs, London Beefeaters, Twin City Predators, Pickering Dolphins and the Guelph Bears.

In addition to the three CFL coaches, speakers include CFL alumni Duane Forde, Glen Kulka and Mike Samples; NFL coach John Levra; US high school coach Paul Wilson; USA Football’s Nick Inzerello; and a wide variety of great speakers from Canadian minor and high school programs including Mike MacDonald, Tom Annett, Burke Erwin, Mike Rumelski, Mike Danichewsky, Joe Mlinaric, & Heath Weir.

Marc Trestman will present two sessions on the topic of ‘developing young quarterbacks’. The 2009 CFL Coach of the Year is excited to give back to the minor league football community and said: “I am honored and privileged to assist in the promotion and growth of football in Canada.”

Bellefeuille will present the topic of ‘offensive systems’, while Marshall will present on ‘defensive line pass rush. In addition, newly appointed Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Corey Chamblin will also be presenting two topics at the FCCA Convention: ‘defensive systems’ and ‘defensive backs’.

“The CFL and its coaches are proud to be playing a leadership role at this year’s FCCA convention,” said Kevin McDonald, CFL Director of Football Operations and Development. “While more and more young athletes are enrolling to play football at all levels across Canada, it’s important that we are also developing young coaches.”

For more information regarding the convention please visit [url]www.footballcanada.com or [url]www.canadafootballchat.com.

About IFAF
The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) unites 59 countries on five continents through a burgeoning international sport. With national football federations in existence for more than 75 years, IFAF was created in 1998 to organize and further develop the game through international cooperation and global competition. The IFAF office is located near Paris, France.