Coach education is the way to go: Naaz

THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) director of coaching and education, Lisimati Phakamile, has expressed his gratitude to World Athletics (WA) for its support in the development of athletics in the country through coach education.

NAAZ recently conducted a WA Coaches Education and Certification System (CECS) Level 2 Sprints and Hurdles course that was concluded last week and a Level 1 course that is still ongoing.

The Level 1 course, aimed at school teachers, attracted 64 participants. The CECS is available to member federations that would like to make use of it.
For each course level, WA provides a standard syllabus, qualified lecturers and the necessary learning support materials.

The course is being conducted by Phakamile, while Muzi Mabuza from Eswatini was in charge of the Level 2 Course.

Four out of 20 participants in the Level 2 class were from Botswana.
“We are pleased with the confidence WA has shown us to host coaches’ workshops of this magnitude.
We are growing in confidence and we have been tasked to be the school of athletics in the region.

“We have been receiving coaches from South Africa and Botswana to train in Zimbabwe and this is a big milestone for our association as the region now has confidence in our lecturers and confidence in delivering the coach education system.

We are happy with the confidence the region is showing us,” said Phakamile.
He said they are also targeting school teachers to help develop learners in their respective schools.
He added that ECD teachers were also in attendance and this would help catch and nurture talent from a kindergarten age.

“For the Level 1 course, we targeted school teachers who are eager to develop their learners into athletes. This course targeted Naph and Nash and we are happy that we had a good turnout from the two organisations which sent their coaches and teachers for the course.

Owing to the big numbers we have, the class was divided into two for proper management.
“Our main objective as an association is to equip these coaches with the scientific knowledge of coaching and practical knowledge of how to handle school children.

We are also excited that ECD teachers will introduce the concept of sport at an early age,” said Phakamile.Originally approved by the WA Council on 26 November 2015, from January 2016 the CECS features three levels of courses operating in seven languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Portuguese.

Financial resources for the system come from WA and its Area Associations, Olympic Solidarity and other partners at international and national levels, as well as self-funded options at higher levels.
CECS has been co-ordinated by six Area Associations and their respective Area Development Centres under the supervision of the WA Development Department since 2018. —@innocentskizoe