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Cup coaches gather in Brazil for workshop
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[February 17, 2014]
By Mark Gleeson
FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil (Reuters) — All 32
coaches of the World Cup finalists are scheduled to gather in one of the
Brazil's leading tourist resorts for a workshop this week as the country
seeks to put its best foot forward months before the kick off of the
2014 finals.
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 Cloudy conditions and rain on Santa Catalina Island will take
some of the shine off the usually hot and humid tropical paradise as
participants debate and discuss the finer details of the tournament.
Usually the workshop is more of an information seminar for FIFA,
which gathers together not only the coaches but delegation leaders,
team managers, security officers, team doctors and media personnel
from each qualified nation.
They undertake a thorough run-through of the rules and regulations,
from major issues such as transport and training to more mundane
things like the maximum permissible size of equipment manufacturers'
logos on the players' kits.
Ahead of recent World Cups, however, there has been lively debate
among the coaches, who use the rare opportunity of direct access to
organizers to voice concerns over issues like the number of
preparatory days, exacting travel schedules and training facilities.
The vast distances in Brazil and expected heat and humidity are
likely to be raised, although they will do little to change plans
which have long been put in place by world soccer's governing body.
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Input from past workshops, always held behind closed doors, has
helped to refine complex hosting arrangements in subsequent
tournaments, FIFA officials told Reuters on Monday.
Among the issues up for discussion on Wednesday is likely to the
question of multiple water breaks during matches in some extremely
hot and humid venues.
The coaches will meet for a half-day session on Wednesday after
which they assemble for their now traditional collective photo — a
one-off picture of every coach participating at the World Cup.
Participants will discuss security issues on Thursday.
(Editing by Ed Osmond)
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