The IAAF level–I Track and Field coaching course started yesterday at the National Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue.
The course, headed by IAAF Lecturers, Oscar Gadea of Uruguay and Suriname’s Raymond Gilson will be held for 12 days with daily theoretical and practical sessions. “The IAAF has now brought about changes in the education system for the coaches and this is the first level-I course to be held in South America after the revamp,” said Gadea, in his deep Spanish accent.
The course features 24 participants including two-time Olympian, Winston George and heads of athletic clubs from across the country. Gadea noted that the main goal of a coach is to produce standout athletes while mentioning that this part of the world have some of the most talented sports men and women. The Uruguayan then thanked the Guyana Olympic Association and President of the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson for making the course a reality in such a short period of time.
Said Hutson “It’s important that we understand that we have too many persons in our system who are active with athletes but do not have the necessary prerequisite knowledge of making them the champions they can be.
As Oscar said, we have the material locally to produce great champions, what we need now is for the coaches to guide these athletes to a bright future, so the level-1 course is the first step and we want to give a lot of thanks to the IAAF for facilitating us on such short notice.”
Hutson continued “Normally we would have to give them three months [advance] notice and they would have to find a date. So we are thankful that this came into fruition just five weeks after I spoke with Lord Sebastian Coe.” Head of the GOA, K. Juman-Yassin then delivered the charge to participants. “As coaches you have a very important responsibility. Once a young person looks to you and accepts that you are their coach, you have a prominent part to play in their lives.
I encourage you to be good students, take in as much as possible, ask questions, develop yourselves and take notes and after you complete this course put it into practice.” The participants who graduate from the course, must be an active level-1 coach for at least one year before becoming eligible to sit the level-2 exams.
