“It is not just about football, it’s about life.”
A few weeks ago, participants of the World Coaches Training program on Sint Maarten received their certificate of completion. A World Coach teaches children in a fun and professional way to play (better) football and at the same time teaches them how to tackle certain life challenges. In short, a World Coach is a role model: both on and off the field.
Odessa Ashby, Jean van Heyingen and Matthew Horton, are three of these role models on Sint Maarten.
“The World Coach program shows you that football is more than just blowing a whistle,” says Odessa. Odessa grew up in Belvedere, one of the neighbourhoods where the coaches train with kids every Thursday. “Belvedere is a tough neighbourhood. A lot of kids can benefit from playing with us here,” she explains.
Jean, who also grew up on Sint Maarten, has been involved with football on the island for many years. When he heard about the program, he was instantly interested: “I wanted to help after Hurricane Irma. When I heard that I could do this through football, it was a perfect match.”
Matthew, who usually resides in the United States, arrived on the island in January. “I wanted to get involved. I coach back home as well. The program really drew me in because it combined life skills with football. I had never done that before.”
To Jean's surprise, it wasn’t just the kids who benefitted from the program. “It helped me overcome my own trauma of the hurricane, as well as other life issues. This has been a very healing experience for me.”
Alongside training in football technique, the coaches are also educated in social skills. The life skill courses provide the World Coaches practical tools to raise awareness on important local issues. Subjects covered are addiction, behaviour, environment, crime, HIV and AIDS, the status of women, dealing with loss and other emotions that often occur after a severe disaster and more – depending on the location of the World Coaches.
Odessa explains that the program has been teaching her to be more patient: “Many of the kids here, are dealing with hardships at home. These issues have been magnified due to Hurricane Irma. I learned that I should take that into consideration while coaching. These kids made the effort to come and play – despite what they are going through.”
Belvedere and surrounding residential areas contain many low-income households. The storm has taken a heavy toll on the area – many homes are still in need of reconstruction or repairs.
Matthew: “Families are under a lot of stress – parents either working multiple jobs or out and about hoping to find work. Some kids come to practice without shoes or tell us that they haven’t eaten that day.”
To make sure the kids have a positive experience during their football training sessions, the coaches make sure a lot of emphasis is put on having fun.
“It isn’t always easy!” says Jean. He admits he also had to learn how ‘to think before he acts’:” Whatever you want the kids to learn and do – you need to learn and do yourself. We teach them teamwork, awareness and smart decision-making. Most importantly we teach them not to give up!” The latter lesson, Jean also keeps in mind when he is having a difficult day himself.
Both Odessa and Jean, are still dealing with their own aftermath of the storm. Jean: “When I see my damaged roof, I can feel pretty down. Out here, on the field I am happy.” Odessa adds: “When I am here, coaching, I realize I am not going through it all alone.”
All the coaches express their hope that the program can continue when they have completed their training. Odessa: “The more coaches the merrier. There are many neighbourhoods that can use the World Coach program on the island. A full-scale field, proper facilities and getting more equipment for kids, who can’t afford to buy their own, should also be part of this.”
Once the coaches are on the field – you can see that they are in their element. Odessa, who oversees the younger kids during this training session, plays and yells, with just as much excitement as the kids.
Jean and Matthew, carefully observe the older kids, interjecting when needed, but also encouraging them to solve their own conflicts while promoting fair play. When one of the boys gets frustrated, Jean pulls him aside for a little chat. A few minutes later, the boy – a bit reluctantly – returns to the field.
“The worst thing you can do is give up on them,” Jean concludes.
This program was facilitated by UNICEF, executed by KNVB in collaboration with the St. Maarten Soccer Association and in coordination with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport of the government of Sint Maarten and National Sport Institute. This is one of the early recovery projects financed by the Dutch Recovery Fund for St Maarten, under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
