L. MathekaCoaches commence training ahead of Youth camp
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 01.04.22. | 18:54
NOC-K is keen on having one youth camp during each school holiday to ensure continuity.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has begun a two-day coaches' online training in readiness for an ambitious Elite Youth Development Programme that starts with a camp on Monday 4 April 2022 at Kenyatta University Ruiru Campus.
The online training was officially opened by NOC-K president, Dr. Paul Tergat. Serving in the IOC Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics Coordination (YOG) Commission tasked with overseeing the planning of the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, Tergat put emphasis on the importance of the youth development programme as Kenya prepares for the 2026 event and the Africa Youth Games later in the year.
“Today’s training targets youth coaches and is aimed at ensuring they are aligned and adequately prepared to deliver their services during next week’s Youth Camp,” Tergat offered.
With Youth Camp set to start next week as we prepare for the Youth Africa Games out in Egypt, Coaches will today be trained in readiness of Camp. @paul_tergat NOC-K president officially opened the training speaking on particular interest and focus on the development of the youth pic.twitter.com/hrvj2OJomf
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) April 1, 2022
He continued, “Indeed, our NOC-K 2022-2024 Strategic Direction envisions a deliberate effort towards a Youth Development Programme, geared on the road to the next round of African Games, Paris 2024 Olympics and the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.”
The training which has a total of 36 coaches nominated through various federations, focuses on equipping coaches with knowledge on how to better handle, train and manage budding athletes.
The training is a multi-commissioned program with the Elite Development program, working closely with Youth Commission, NOC-K Institute and Medical Commission. Local and international experts have also been invited to ensure proper training which is a process toward technical and general areas being improved. With this knowledge, the coaches are expected to smoothly run the 14-day Youth Camp.
NOC-K is keen on having one youth camp during each school holiday in order to ensure continuity. The Elite Youth Development Programme is a part of the overall committee’s legacy strategy.
It not only focuses on the Youth Olympics but also on the general development of athletes and the elevation of sporting standards in Kenya. NOC-K intends to develop an all-round athlete who is good at sport and in life outside sport.
Day one of the training saw the coaches get insights on the basics of being a youth coach from experienced hockey coach, Michael Malungu, who was the coach in the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The second session saw strength and conditioning coach, Geoffrey Kimani talk about the guidelines of physical activity in regard to young athletes. Kimani reiterated the importance of getting the building blocks and fundamentals of different sports by our coaches rather than focusing on the “train to win” mentality.
“We should not put pressure on our young athletes with the "train to win" mentality as coaches when we ought to be teaching the fundamentals of a particular sport. This is a development phase in an athlete’s career " Kimani offered.
The second day of the program will have Sports Scientist Rosemary Owino take the coaches through youth physical development and maturation and nutrition, diet and hydration by Susan Gesare while injury prevention will be facilitated by Altaf Mapara.
The coaches will report to camp on Monday t4 April 2022 before the athletes of ages 12-18 years join camp. NOC-K will officially launch the Camp next week.
