US player for JFF goalkeeping course

Former United States professional football player Paul Grafer will be the FIFA instructor at a FIFA goalkeeping course from today through to Friday, hosted by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and to be held at the JFF Football Centre, UWI.

Paul Grafer played eight years of professional football for the NY/NJ Metrostars, Colorado Rapids, and Long Island Rough Riders. He has coached at all levels of the US football landscape, including club, college, professional and US youth national teams. He has served on the USSF Goalkeeping Education Committee and is a FIFA instructor for its international Goalkeeper Coach Programme.

After spending six years as a coach with the United States Soccer Federation's Under-17 national team and at Chivas USA in Major League Soccer, Paul Grafer returned to New York City in 2015 to join the Public Relations and Competition Department in the MLS Headquarters.

All parish associations and premier league clubs have been invited by the JFF to nominate a coach for the course. Topics will include: the young goalkeeper; dead ball/ set pieces; crosses, build-ups, reflexes; laws of the game (GK); physical preparation of goal keepers and women's football.

This course, which was requested by the JFF of FIFA, continues the federation's coaching education programme aimed at improving the quality of coaches across the football landscape.