Phase 2 of the RLEF’s Technical Strategy in the Central Europe region has been completed. As a result, the national governing bodies for Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Malta and Serbia now have trained and soon-to-be-qualified coach tutors with each nation steering towards a greater capacity to produce and develop their own coaching personnel. The Central Europe element of Phase 2 - the first of five such reginoal events - was funded by the Serbian Ministry of Youth and Sports and held at the state of the art Serbian Football Federation Sports Centre, and led by RLEF Coaching Manager Martin Crick. It followed on from the launch seminar in London in March, which was attended by 48 coach-tutor candidates from 19 different nations.

Phase 2 of the strategy sees the candidates devolve into their own RLEF regions to receive more specialised coaching and tutorial work while the final phase will see each team of tutors delivering a national Level 1 Coaching Course to local candidates, when they will attain full tutor status. Dirk Frase, from Rugby League Deutschland, commented, "We had a really great course. We improved our knowledge and we do believe that we are ready to transfer we have gained to other rugby league coaches in our countries."

Project leader Martin Crick, who was assisted by Stuart Wilkinson, noted, "I am very pleased with the work, dedication, will, desire and enthusiasm of all the delegates. Each day they made considerable progress and demonstrated a significant level of knowledge. Courses like this will push forward the development of rugby league in Europe. It has been an inspiring four days, I have never worked in such a marvellous environment.”

The ultra-modern facility in Stara Pazova boasts five football fields set among every conceivable amenity for the professional athlete.

Phase 2 of the MENA Region Coaching project commences in Beirut on 6th September while dates are still being finalised in the Atlantic Region with the projected course venue, Spanish Town’s GC Foster College in Jamaica, and the Eastern Europe base, in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Details of the Western Europe base will be revealed in due course.

CENTRAL EUROPE COACHING PHASE 2 GRADUATES
David Lahr, Andrew Mulhall (CZRLA); Tiziano Franchini, Kelly Rolleston (FIRL); Clifford DeBattista, Anthony Micallef (MRL); Dirk Frase, Uwe Jansen, Marcus Leimert (RLD); Dragan Radlovic, Slavisa Zekic, Lazar Zivkovic (SRLF)