The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA)\ FINA coaching clinic concluded last evening at Olympic House, High Street, Kingston.
The programme, which started on August 19, saw the participants undertaking theoretical sessions which included Stroke technique, Physiology of training and Season planning at Olympic House, while the practical sessions where the coaches and instructors learned how to teach the strokes to swimmers were conducted at Colgrain Pool.
FINA certified Coach Rick Powers, who facilitated the sessions, said the swimmers made significant improvement during the programme. He stated that Guyana is the 47th country he worked with adding that talent is not a problem, but the sport needs support.
The participants display their certificates. Coach Rick Powers is sitting second from left.
Powers pointed out that he would like to see the swimmers as well as schools use the National Aquatic centre at Liliendaal regularly. “The sport needs support to develop and I would like to see the swimmers use the centre more regularly. The first step in building a strong swimming country is to make a strong foundation so their must be co-operation between the Swimming Association and the Educational sector so that the sport can be taught to the children”, he added.
Powers said the programme gives the Association the tools to work with and he wants to see more Physical Education in schools. “This is an integral part of the Education process”, stated Powers.
Vice President of the GASA Dr. Karen Pilgrim said she is pleased with the clinic stating that there are more persons with knowledge who we can call on to assist.
One of the participants, Nadine Smith, stated that she learnt a lot from the course and plans to work with clubs and assist the outlying areas.
Seventeen of the twenty participants reached the minimum of seventy percent attendance and received certificates of participation.
Meanwhile, the FINA level one Certification course will commence today and closes on Saturday at the National Aquatic Centre.