Polish coach educators turn to German example

The Polish Football Federation (PZPN) is looking to Germany to improve the education of its youth coaches with a series of courses focusing on German coaching philosophies.

The joint project between the PZPN and the German Football Association (DFB) is now in its second year and the cooperation between the two associations has so far yielded six courses involving around 180 coaches. The UEFA B licence is on offer to those who successfully complete the courses and accompanying exams.


"The main idea has been to show our youth coaches the German method of working with kids and youth players. What we teach them during the course is the German, and German only, philosophy of football," said Robert Graf from the PZPN grassroots department.

"The problem in Poland is that we lack well qualified youth coaches and only with such people can we progress. During the course our coaches experience a different mentality, attitude and methods which they can use in their future work."

The latest course takes place from 14 to 23 October, with five days in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland, and the remaining five days at the Niedersächsischer Fussballverband football academy in Barsinghausen, Germany. The course is being led by two former Polish professionals who work at the German academy – Marek Wanik of the DFB and ex-international Dariusz Schubert.



"From my point of view, this is the best course for youth coaches we have done so far. The quantity and quality of knowledge handed down to participants is enormous," said Graf.