Sebert Blake successfully completes IOC coaching course in Hungary

Dec 16, 2013 Sports

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Beset by accusations of administrative ineptitude, officials of the amateur boxing fraternity are now better equipped to grapple with these and similar challenges after former amateur pugilist and coach of the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF), Sebert Blake, successfully completed three months of diligent studies at the Semmelweis University, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Strategic and International Directorate, Budapest Hungary, where he acquired a Diploma in sports science and boxing specifics.

Kaieteur Sport spoke with Blake shortly after his return and he admitted that the course was indeed challenging. He said that he was scheduled to arrive in Hungary early September but visa and other immigration issues resulted in him arriving in the host country two weeks after the scheduled start. This did not deter the Forgotten Youth Foundation (FYF) coach and he said that he not only managed to complete the requisite course work, but has accrued the maximum forty points to share the top spot with the Slovenian coach.
President of the Guyana Olympics Association (GOA), K A Juman Yassin, was instrumental in the acquisition of the initiative and Blake said that he is grateful to the GOA boss for affording him the opportunity. He is the fourth local coach to have benefitted from this programme after three of his colleagues, Terrence Poole, Carl Franklyn and Clifton Moore, completed similar studies a few years ago.
The course content has been carefully selected to meet the needs of coaches working with generally young, developing athletes as well as with advanced athletes of elite sport and Blake explained that he was required to complete theoretical, practical and technical components of the programme.
He said that he managed to attain maximum marks in several specialist areas including general conditioning, sports pedagogy, sports physiology, sports psychology, sports therapy, sports theory and sports sociology. Since progress in the training programme requires active coaching to implement the knowledge gained in the coaching course, all participants are involved in practical coaching work in the leading Hungarian sport clubs. They are supervised by the senior lecturer and/or his/her assistants of the particular sport.
Blake said that additionally, participants were required to submit a researched study report on one of several topics provided by the facilitators. He said that he researched issues relating to modern boxing training and delivered an impressive document that netted him an average of 500 points which amounted to a pass of excellence.
The coach said that he compared techniques and strategies employed by his local colleagues with those just experienced and he feels that while there ought to be adjustments in applications of the local coaches, some of those very (local) strategies and implementations should be retained as they are better suited for our situation.
“The Hungarians concentrate heavily on techniques, anaerobic, conditioning and fitness aspects of the preparation,” Blake pointed out. In contrast, local boxing coaches focus heavily on strategies. “I believe that both areas could complement each other and I plan speaking with my colleagues to examine ways of employing these techniques towards the (local) boxers’ development,” Blake said. He admits that some of the applications will not be relevant to a Guyanese situation and posits that “local coaches will have to examine the best way forward while taking our unique circumstances into consideration. These include altitude, climatic conditions and nutrition,” he said.
The first International Coaching Course in Budapest was held in 1971. Since the establishment of the Course, over 1,500 participants from more than 85 countries and all continents of the world received their education and certificate at that University. As a result of the long-time activity in the international coach education the Course management has developed cooperation with governmental and non-governmental institutions all over the world, which corresponded with the objectives of the course. The ICC is designed to train and educate coaches from around the World with a programme structure that attempts to promote and develop excellence in coaching. The course provides coaches with a systematic way to improve their knowledge and skills in the theoretical, technical and practical aspects of coaching.
Meanwhile, President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle congratulated Blake on his achievement and urged him to impart what he has learnt towards the betterment of the sports. Mr Ninvalle was also grateful to the GOA President for his intervention that made Blake’s participation possible.
Ninvalle said that his executives will continue to explore ways of enhancing the fraternity even as they stay committed to attaining the coveted Olympic gold medal.

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