The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Technical Committee underlined its commitment to raise the technical standards of the Continent’s coaches after it approved several enhancements and new requirements at its fifth meeting held virtually today.

In preparation of the launch of the AFC Women’s Champions League in 2024, the Committee, led by Chairperson Kohzo Tashima, acknowledged the importance of establishing a progressive minimum coaching requirement for key coaching positions of participating clubs.

Consequently, Head Coaches of participating clubs in the 2024 edition of the AFC Women’s Champions League must possess an AFC A Diploma, with Assistant Coaches required to hold an AFC B Diploma. Goalkeeping Coaches must have an AFC Goalkeeping B Diploma while Fitness Coaches will be required to hold an AFC Fitness Level 1 Diploma.

Members of the Committee also recognised the necessity to ensure rising standards in the quality of coaches and discussed the possibility of raising the requirements in 2028.

Additionally, with the AFC goalkeeping coaching courses being integrated to the AFC Coaching Convention Regulations 2021 as AFC Goalkeeping A and AFC Goalkeeping B diploma courses, the Committee agreed to amend the current minimum coaching requirements.

Moving forward, the AFC Goalkeeping Level 2 will be changed to the AFC Goalkeeping B while the AFC Goalkeeping Level 3 will be changed to the AFC Goalkeeping A. Coaches holding the AFC Goalkeeping Levels 2 and 3 will be considered as having the AFC Goalkeeping B and A diplomas respectively with immediate effect.

For both the AFC Women’s Champions League 2024 and the AFC Goalkeeping A and B diplomas, the Committee also agreed that officials who do not meet the minimum coaching requirements or its recognised equivalent, must apply for recognition of their coaching competence as per the AFC Regulations Governing the Recognition of Experience and Current Competence.

The Committee also approved the Disputed Goals and Player of the Match guidelines as well as the 2023 AFC Specialised Coaching Courses for Member Associations (MAs) that have not been integrated into the AFC Coaching Convention.

Finally, the Committee was also briefed on the length and breadth of the Confederation’s technical events held virtually since its last meeting as well as the ever-growing impact of the AFC’s three membership schemes namely the AFC Grassroots Charter, the Elite Youth Scheme, and the AFC Coaching Convention.

(AFC)