Coaches find a plan to crack the lockdown
Jonatan Johansson is one of a number of coaches who have used technology to complete the SFA’S Pro Licence course remotely during lockdown.
Along with the likes of Russell Martin, Maurice Ross, Peter Lovenkrands and Stuart Kettlewell, the former Rangers striker should have been put through his paces in Nyon in Switzerland.
However, with foreign travel off the table due to coronavirus, all have been logging in to their laptops to receive their tuition on screen.
Greig Paterson, the head of coach education at the SFA, said: “Some things will have to be put on hold, but I don’t want anyone to lose out or see their time go to waste, even though football is shut down.
“Obviously, the trip to Nyon couldn’t happen, so instead we used the dates to continue to deliver to our coaches.
“People like Pat Bonner and Dan Ashworth – the former director of elite development at the FA – came in as guest lecturers.
“We managed to deliver an entire week – and a busy one at that – of coach education to our top-level course.
“This was a huge achievement, considering the limitations we’re facing.
“As tough as it is just now, there is a lot of inspirational stuff going on.
“A great example is Russell Martin. “As manager of MK Dons, but also as someone currently on the UEFA Pro Licence with us, he is learning in theory through the course, as well as being a manager in adverse times like this.
“He explained to us on a recent podcast that the mind-set of his players is more important than anything right now.
“He’s putting a lot of energy into that side of it, whilst also giving his time to provide advice to those on our courses.
“I also spoke to the head of academy coaching at Aberdeen, Gavin Levey, last week, and he was incredibly optimistic about the technical development of their players at this time, which may sound a bit surprising.
“He’s seeing a lot of progression from young players merely from practising in their back garden.
“He told me that they are now trying to improve daily by setting themselves targets.”