Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

TWENTY-THREE coaches drawn from across Jamaica are currently participating in a two-week International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) Level One coaching course at G.C. Foster College.

The Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) recommended six of the participants taking part in the course, which is being conducted by director Roy Thomas and Jerry Holness.

The other participants are prospective G.C. Foster graduates and former students.

Course secretary Ventley Brown said the college planned to host the course annually.

Brown said they were motivated to do the course because "90 per cent of the performances at Champs were (coached by) G.C. Foster graduates".

He then went on to name the likes of Maurice Wilson of Holmwood, Raymond Graham of St. Jago, Danny Hawthorne of St. Jago, Michael Dyke of Edwin Allen, Michael Clarke of Calabar and Dwayne Jarrett of Vere.

Certification

"The main idea is to have these coaches certified so that they can be more marketable locally and regionally as they would only leave G.C. Foster with a diploma or degree in physical education," Brown said.

All the course material is provided by the IAAF, which include books, charts and lecture material, while equipment, accommodation and food is provided by the college.

Course director Thomas said things were going well in the course, which targets coaches of athletes from beginners up to age 17.

"We cover all the events in track and field," he said. "The students are enthusiastic, they came with quite a bit of knowledge of track and field but they are finding some things new - they are learning and they are enthusiastic," he said. He said based on the quality of results, these coaches could move on to Level Two where they would specialise in a particular areas - jumps, throws, middle and long distances, sprints, hurdles and walking.

To move on, Thomas said, participants would have to pass with a grade four, which is the top mark in the practical, and pass with a score of about 45 out of 60 in the theory, which would qualify them for Level Two, which will be held in Puerto Rico.