ZINA boosts netball coaches

Tadious Manyepo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

ZIMBABWE Netball Association president Leticia Chipandu feels the game can go places if coaches continuously receive training in modern methods.

The veteran administrator is overseeing a first-of-its-kind coaching workshop being facilitated by seasoned gaffer Tapiwa Chirenda in Harare.

The training aims to standardise the way in which netball lessons are delivered to the players right from the grassroots up to the elite level. Coaches from primary schools, social level, First Division, Rainbow Amateur League, and the Premier Netball League are all taking part. “It’s certainly good to have workshops like this as they help elevate our coaching levels from the base going up, said Chipandu.

“I am very happy with how the coaches have responded to the call. It is good for the game in this country.”

Chirenda said the best performers will be upgraded and get a chance to participate in an international workshop to be carried out by Netball World this year.

“This workshop is very effective. It’s a first-of-its-kind workshop where we have managed to bring so many coaches together.

“We have grouped these coaches. We are trying to evaluate and assess them so that we can have a standardised way of coaching,” said Chirenda. “In the past we used to have a haphazard way of doing things, and it has not been well. “We have coaches from across the board, seniors, and even school teachers who have sought to keep up with trends after receiving their Level 1 coaching in provinces. “Our main focus now is to standardise the way we are coaching.

“From this course, we will pick at least 20 individuals who will go for an advanced international course to be conducted by Netball World around May. The turnout is very big.” One of the participants Nesta Matsivo, the head in charge of netball for the National Association of Primary Heads, hailed the programme.

Matsivo is also the netball coach at Chiromo Primary School in Mt. Darwin.

“I did my first coaching course in Mashonaland Central last year. I gained a lot in terms of technique, and I am happy to report that my school won silver at the national level last year. “I am gaining a lot from this workshop and hope to do even better this year,” said Matsivo. Munyaradzi Joseph, who coaches Aspindale in the First Division and hopes to get promotion into the PNL via next week’s play-offs, echoed the same sentiments. “The workshop is very important, especially for some young coaches like me. We are learning a lot,” said Joseph.

“We haven’t been getting the key knowledge from workshops like this previously.

“Netball used to be looked down upon, but now it’s big business. We need to keep up with the trends.”