NC coach invited to be part of symposium

LOCAL high jump coach Theo Senekal is the only coach from the Northern Cape to be selected by Athletics South Africa (ASA) to take part in a qualifications programme for members of its Excellence Advisory Council.

Kimberley-based Senekal finds himself in the company of another 28 national athletics coaches who were also invited to take part in ASA’s two-day symposium at the University of the Free State.

The symposium runs from October 6 to 7.

This is the second part of the qualifications process that was initiated by ASA earlier this year.

The first criteria is based on the coach’s medal-winning track record, more specifically it requires that a coach should have at least produced a medal winner in an ASA sanctioned championship in a competitive season.

An ASA circular sent out this week confirmed that close to 30 applicants had applied to be considered for the association’s Level 3 national coaching certification process.

ASA’s circular also confirmed that several overseas based track and field experts will join the proceedings as guest speakers at the Bloemfontein symposium with the theme: “Developing a winning nation”. Senekal and the other coaches are expected to deliver a thesis on their respective fields of expertise.

A guide on the thesis has already been forwarded to the relevant parties.

Upon successful delivery of the thesis Senekal and others will be considered to form part of ASA’s panel of Excellence Coaches.

To be considered to the

ASA Excellence Advisory programme aspiring coaches must at least possess a Level 2 coaching certificate.

ASA meanwhile, announced that the association could only approve 200 applicants to the programme owing to limited seating arrangements.

Entries to the symposium close on 16 September.