SSC highlights training programmes, coaches’ performance in online meeting
KUCHING: The Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) recently held a meeting and dialogue via video zoom conferencing with all current elite coaches comprising 78 local coaches and 18 foreign coaches from 36 sports who are involved mainly in the preparation of Sukma Johor 2022 and national athletes.
SSC was represented by its chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee and sports development division manager Ahmad Rodzli Hashim and sports development officers from SSC and the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) as well as officers from the Sarawak High Performance Unit (HPU).
SSC took the opportunity to review its current practices and look at ways to re-invigorate and restructure the current practices that included training of the elite squads and a comprehensive assessment of the current group of elite coaches.
The present assessment and evaluation of the elite coaches will be focusing pertinently into the coaches planning and preparation, including programme and technical skills with application of current sports science practices analysing their effectiveness and efficiency of using High Performance processes.
There were three focal areas emphasised in the assessment programmes and firstly, the coaches were assessed on their ability to write programme and plan their training, through developing their monthly/year plans (macrocycle).
The other area is the competition achievements and their Key Performance Index from January 2019 to December 2020 and the final area was the management of their programme and how they worked together with the non-governmental organisations and stakeholders.
Upon completion of the current assessment and evaluation of the elite coaches, the same programmes will be applied to all other coaches in the Centres of Excellence and Development.
In the follow up, there will be sports visits to the venues by SSC, MSNS and HPU representatives to check on the training and to sit down with coaches to discuss on their training and programmes.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Assistant Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan will also be visiting some of the training venues.
The other agenda in the meeting was the launching of Sarawak’s first Sports Specific Rehabilitation Centre by Abdul Karim next month.
The rehabilitation centre has been specifically designed to educate athletes and coaches on sports injury recovery.
SSC’s and MSNS’ main focus in the on-going current programmes is developing the skills of the coaches and increasing their knowledge in planning and preparation training.
According to HPU manager Andre Richards, coaches should take this positively as it is a perfect opportunity to improve themselves continually and learn from each other.
Dr Ong, who is also MSNS director, stresses the importance of quality coaching.
“To be the sports powerhouse of the nation, we must have quality coaches to produce quality athletes. Hopefully with the current assessment and evaluation of the elite coaches, the coaches have to be more proactive and committed to improve their coaching skills to be world class coaches.”