GMA launches non-English language training course for groundskeepers

The UK-based Grounds Management Association (GMA) has launched its first-ever non-English language training course.

Written in Serbo-Croat-Bosnian, the Nivo 1 Održavanje Fudbalskih Terena is a direct translation of the existing Level 1 Maintenance of Football Pitches course.

While the online-based course focuses on football, it allows participants to gain an awareness and general understanding of the tasks involved in maintaining playing surfaces.

Serbo-Croat-Bosnian was chosen as the language for the GMA’s first-ever foreign translation, as it will support learning across a vast European region – including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.

The launch comes after two years of research and discussion, with a regime of testing by three turf care experts native to the nations.

Stefan Dičić, stadium and technical maintenance manager at Red Star Belgrade football club, said: “I am very impressed with what the Technical and Learning team at the GMA have achieved here.

“Having successfully completed the course myself during the testing process, I believe my team and I will be able to produce better results on the pitch, especially greater safety, field presentation, and machinery maintenance.

“It is always good to renew the theory behind pitch maintenance and then to apply it on the pitch.”

Dan Prest, head of technical and learning at the GMA, added: “I’m very proud of what the GMA has achieved here.

“Having already run numerous training sessions in Europe on behalf of European and international football authorities, we recognised that while immediate short, sharp face-to-face training sessions are invaluable, there was very little ongoing support in many regions.

“Therefore, with the help of Bojan, we decided to translate an existing course into Serbo-Croat-Bosnian.”

The course is now available to purchase online at the GMA Website.