Lagos – The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Academy on Friday says it will launch an introductory online programme for coaches interested in training athletes with an impairment.
An online portal, the `Insidethegames’ said the programme titled “Coaching Para-Sport: An Introductory Programme’’, which was a generic course was targeted at qualified coaches of able-bodied athletes.
According to it, the programme will assist coaches to adapt to coaching programmes and styles to suit the needs of athletes with impairment.
“The programme which includes four modules will help delegates to understand and define various classification impairment groups.
“And the methodological principles inherent in Para-sport and exercise management,’’ it said.
The portal added that Guido Bonsen, Head Coach of Dutch Para-athletics made successful transition from training able-bodied to Para-athletes.
It said that the differences between coaching Olympic and Paralympic sport were small. “There aren’t too many differences between coaching able-bodied to Para-athletes.
“Athletes are people with the same minds, same energy systems, same dreams and the same good and bad days.
“I started this job in 2009 with no clue about Para-athletics, but I learned and developed together with my athletes and it made me a more creative coach.
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“As a coach, I see the impairment as inspiration to be creative in my programmes that I set and personally; my motivation is to help my athletes in fulfilling their athletic dreams.
“You can’t get much information when training athletes with impairment but the programme will help coaches to get started in coaching athletes with impairment,’’ it quoted Bonsen as saying.
The portal said that, Chris Solly, director of the IPC Academy explained that coaching required extensive knowledge and skills in many fields such as training principles, exercise physiology, bio-mechanics, and sports psychology.
It noted that sport specific workshops could become available across various IPC sports with both IPC Athletics and IPC Powerlifting already offering them. (NAN)