Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts has expressed satisfaction with the success of the recently-concluded Concacaf Coach Education Panel Training Workshop and Meeting, which took place in Kingston.
Ricketts hailed the gathering as a major step forward not only for Jamaican football but for the entire region, as he described it as a timely and necessary investment in the long-term development of the sport.
“We are honoured to welcome the Concacaf Coach Education Panel to Kingston. Coach education is a critical pillar in football development, and we are proud to support efforts that elevate coaching standards not just here in Jamaica but across the entire region," Ricketts said.
The three-day workshop brought together top technical leaders from across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It served as both an onboarding and recalibration session for the 2025–2026 cohort of the Coach Education Panel, the group tasked with driving the implementation of the Concacaf Coaching Convention across all 41 Member Associations.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in robust discussions and practical sessions focused on aligning evaluation procedures, ensuring quality control, and maintaining consistency in the delivery of the Concacaf C, B, A, and Pro Diploma coaching courses. Special attention was given to the convention’s application and audit process, with the goal of reinforcing high standards and supporting sustainable coaching pathways.
One of the highlights of the event was the pair of live site evaluations conducted at JFF training venues, where panel members observed the Federation’s C License course in action. These practical exercises helped participants better understand standard audit procedures and promoted the sharing of best practices among Member Associations.
Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani commended the workshop’s impact on football development in the region.
"Coach education is one of the most powerful investments we can make in the future of football in our region. Through the Coaching Convention and the expert guidance of our panel, we are equipping Member Associations with the tools and standards they need to build sustainable, high-quality coaching systems," Montagliani noted.
Echoing those sentiments, Concacaf Chief Football Development Officer Jason Roberts emphasized the importance of continued investment in technical structures.
"Workshops like this are essential to our mission of professionalizing coaching across the region. We are proud to welcome a new cohort of panel members whose expertise will help strengthen development structures and support long-term football growth," Roberts stated.
The Coach Education Panel plays a central role in monitoring and guiding the implementation of the Coaching Convention — Concacaf’s standardized framework to elevate and harmonize coach education throughout the region.
Panel members, who serve two-year terms, are selected based on the progress and commitment of their respective Member Associations to the convention. With the new 2025–2026 cohort officially inducted, Concacaf continues to chart a forward-looking path for technical excellence and football development at all levels.