Bermuda forward Jaden Masters has begun to prepare for life after playing football as she starts the process of securing her coaching qualifications.

Masters was one of 11 participants for the first phase of the introductory D licence course. Held from Friday to Sunday at the Clyde Best Centre of Excellence, the course is delivered by Maurice Lowe, the Bermuda Football Association’s technical development director.

“I’ve always wanted to do the coaching course,” Masters, 21, told The Royal Gazette.

“I actually wanted to do it the last two years but I just wasn't in Bermuda at the time they had these courses. I happened to be back this time, so I knew immediately that I was going to be involved.

“I feel like I’ve always been a student of the game and this is going to make my football better on and off the field.

“It’s better to start now so that I can learn more. You have to start somewhere, so I figured out that starting at D and then working my way up to B or A, is the way to go.

“Your playing career is only going to last so long and if you want to continue being involved in the sport, you have to start with a coaching licence.

“As long as my body allows me to, I’ll continue playing. But at the same time, anything can happen. That's why I continue to be a student of the game because that can help me in the long run.

Last Sunday the aspiring coaches, who will complete the second phase of the course from January 17 to 19, benefited from a session delivered by Michael Findlay, the Bermuda men’s coach.

“A lot of the course was information based,” she said. “Most of the stuff we learnt was able to stick for me because I’m still a player.

“The D licence is mainly for the under-11s going down. With this age group, the main thing is keeping it enjoyable for the youngsters so that they want to continue playing.

“With Bermuda being so small, you want to keep that engagement and make coaching more fun. The more you keep it enjoyable for the children, it’s just going to make them continue being involved in the game.”

Masters has just completed her first season as a versatile player in the Sun Belt Conference with the ULM Warhawks in the National Collegiate Athletics Association Division 1. She transferred from the University of Houston.

The powerful forward, who marked her Bermuda return with an excellent first-half brace against Dominican Republic in a Women’s Gold Cup qualifier at the Flora Duffy Stadium last September, has had six knee operations over the years.

When Masters made her Bermuda comeback, coach Naquita Robinson mentioned that she had even suggested that the former IMG Academy student take up coaching because of the amount of injuries she had endured.

“Coach Naquita has always encouraged me to do the coaching courses,” she added.

“I’m always learning from her in all aspects of the game. She knows my love for the game runs deep.

“She’s also been a player before so she knows the playing career is only another chapter in your life.”