Football Coaching Education Seminar Held in Liepaja
On July 27-28, the Latvian Football Federation in cooperation with the Liepaja Football School organized a coaching education seminar in Liepaja. Participants learned about modern player development methods and discussed ways to improve training processes.
The Latvian Football Federation (LFF) together with the Liepaja Football School held a football coaching education seminar on July 27-28 in Liepaja. The event was attended by several LFF officials: Sports Director Andrejs Gluščuks, Education Department Specialist Deina Pavāre, Football Academy Director Kirils Buravcevs, and Kurzeme Regional Team Head Coach Jānis Segliņš, as informed by Sandija Pētersone, Project Administrator of the Liepaja Sports Administration.
Over two days, participants engaged in theoretical and practical sessions covering modern player development methodologies. They analyzed the organization of training processes for various age groups and discussed effective solutions for youth football.
The first day focused on the development of players up to 12 years of age, emphasizing the fundamentals of a modern playing style and the importance of individual growth. Theoretical classes were followed by a practical training session with U10 players, allowing participants to observe the application of modern methods in real time.
The second day shifted focus to academy football and the development of 14-year-old players. Topics included the principles of 11v11 football, tactical solutions, and key game components, covered both theoretically and practically.
A key message of the seminar was the need to concentrate more on individual player development during training rather than solely on short-term results. While match results are important, they should not be the only indicator of quality.
In practical workshops, coaches had the opportunity to see experienced specialists at work, analyze exercise selection and its relevance to the training topic. It was emphasized that even minor adjustments in exercises could significantly change the intensity, quality, and outcome.
Endijs Šlampe, Director of the Liepaja Football School, noted that many of the discussed concepts are already being integrated into daily training, but seminars like this help consolidate knowledge and share experience. He stressed that the focus should remain on individual development and creating an environment where results and player growth go hand in hand. Šlampe thanked the LFF for their responsiveness and expressed his desire for the Liepaja Football School to become a strong partner for sports schools in the Kurzeme region, continuing to organize such seminars and activities to enhance coaches' professional development.
