OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 6.00pm.
TWO advanced coaching courses in athletics ended on Friday in Potchefstroom and Port Elizabeth. The courses were run by Athletics South Africa’s (ASA) Talent Identification Programme as part of a campaign to improve the quality of local athletics.
The courses trained over 300 coaches including 80% from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, and 40% women. Coaches neede to have trained athletes scoring higher than 700 points on ASA scoring tables to qualify for the courses.
28 national level coaches spent five days dishing out their secrets on how to improve performance of athletes. TRainers included Stevens Morake, Steve Rautenbach, Magda Botha and Abrie de Swart.
This is the third year running such courses have been held at ASA. In the past two years more than 2000 coaches from rural areas were trained. The five-day courses were held to train coaches who will prepare athletes to compete at provincial and national level. These coaches will now be preparing their athletes to compete at the Talent Identification meetings in October.