IN a milestone event, the National Sports Council (NSC) successfully delivered Community Coach and Official Courses in three different locations in Choiseul Province, making its first outreach beyond Honiara.
The training took place over 6 consecutive days, beginning in Sasamunga on 30 September and concluding in Taro on 5 October 2024. A total of 76 community coaches were trained across the province, with 26 participants attending in Sasamunga, 25 in Vurango and 25 in Taro.
The course covered three key modules:
- Fundamentals of a Good Community Coach and Official
- Being a good community coach and official
- The need for good coaching and officiating
- The benefits of sport for the local community
- Roles and responsibilities of a community coach and official
- Characteristics of a good community coach and official
- Being a good communicator and group organizer
- The need for good communication and management skills
- Safety First
- Reasonable Care
- Getting Enough Water
- Handling potential risks
- Community Coach in Action
- The components of fitness
- The games-based approach
- Planning games-based activities
- Planning warm ups and cool downs
- Running games-based activities
The training program, led by master educators Ms Zinnia Leamana, Mr Morris Maitaki and Mr Jimmy Luitolo, alongside the coordination efforts of the Choiseul Province Sports and Recreation Development Officer (Mr Brian Koveke), provided comprehensive coaching education to empower local leaders in sports particularly in remote areas.
The NSC was particularly encouraged by the active participation of women and youth throughout the training, highlighting the inclusivity of the program and the potential to strengthen community-based sports development through diverse involvement.
With the addition of these newly accredited community coaches, the NSC has now trained a total of 172 coaches, including those previously trained in Honiara and Guadalcanal Province.
The NSC acknowledges the invaluable support of the Choiseul Provincial Government and the collaboration with local chiefs and elders in facilitating the training and laying the foundation for future spots development in the region.
The NSC looks forward to expanding this initiative to other provinces, ensuring that the foundation of quality coaching is established throughout the Solomon Islands.
