Swimming board trains teachers
THE Matabeleland Amateur Swimming Board (MASB) will embark on a skills capacity training programme for teachers in an effort to get more swimmers into the sport.
The board is engaging schools that already have swimming pools and would be seconding coaches to train teachers to ensure they have the right skills to pass on to future swimmers.
MASB chairperson Nokuthula Cyprianos told journalists that they are hoping to see more swimmers coming on board particularly from Government schools. Most swimmers are from private schools which have easy access to pools.
Cyprianos said they saw the need to involve more teachers as most of those in charge of swimming did not know how to swim.
“There is lack of skills training on the part of teachers because most of them would have only qualified as teachers but they have not been taught swimming but find themselves in charge of the sport at their schools.
“This affects the development of new swimmers because it becomes more of recreation than focused training to produce future swimming champions. We are basically teaching them how to impart swimming skills to the kids,” she said. MASB has earmarked seconding coaches to Kumalo Primary, Baines Junior and SOS to work with their teachers. Cyprianos said they also hold allcomers galas in which swimmers that are not actively competitive get a chance to compete on their own. She said this introduces new swimmers to the competitive world and is also an opportunity for talent identification.
“We invite Government schools that have swimming pools to all-comers galas as a way of introducing the young swimmers to the competitive side of the sport in a less intimidating environment and where they do not face swimmers already taking part in the main competitions.
“Some get picked to join clubs marking them bringing them into the main stream of the sport,” said Cyprianos, adding they hold three all-comers galas a season.
She revealed they are also working with the National University of Science and Technology Sports Science Department, whose students have been attached to swimming clubs as part of the learning process.
The programme is aimed at producing more swimming coaches.
She said lack of financial capacity had seen them failing to resuscitate swimming pools in the western suburbs which are derelict.
Mpopoma, Luveve and Barbourfields swimming pools could be used as an entry point for swimmers from the western suburbs but the council-owned facilities are not functioning although there are efforts to renovate and re-open the Barbourfields pool.
The forum was also addressed by gala convener, Bokani Dube and referee, Elizabeth Dare.
Meanwhile, the sixth and final Matabeleland Gala was held on Friday night with the Mat’land Championships next on the calendar.
The event is scheduled for 1 to 4 December with the selection earmarked for 5 December.