Swimming coaches attend top-level course

THE Namibian Swimming Union will be hosting an advanced course for swimming coaches in Windhoek from tomorrow until next Saturday.

Funding has been granted by the International Olympic Solidarity Grant, under the auspices of the Namibian National Olympic Committee. The main presenter will be biokineticist and underwater filming expert Adele du Toit from the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria.Swimming coaches who underwent level 1 Coaching training at the FINA Course in Namibia in May last year will now have the chance to upgrade their knowledge and qualifications.During the week the coaches will attend over 25 hours worth of lectures and conduct 30 hours’ practical training with 30 of Namibia’s best junior and senior swimmers taking part in the practical components.The course will be facilitated by World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA) director Larry Laursen .These swimmers will be filmed above water at a competition on Saturday (January 20) at the monthly NASU Age Group Gala.Each coach will have a private one-on-one underwater filming session which will be analysed in front of the coaches, so that they can learn to correct mistakes in stroke and technique that are difficult to see from the surface.Coaches will be assessed during the course and tested after the course.The lectures and practicals are designed around coaching qualifications in the USA, Australia and Britain, which will form part of the future FINA International Coaching Qualifications.NASU believes that the improvement in the Namibian standard of swimming must start with upgrading of coaches’ qualifications and experience.The President of NASU, Maren de Klerk, said NASU is very grateful for the support and co-operation given by the NNOC and Olympic Solidarity for providing financial assistance.The main presenter will be biokineticist and underwater filming expert Adele du Toit from the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria.Swimming coaches who underwent level 1 Coaching training at the FINA Course in Namibia in May last year will now have the chance to upgrade their knowledge and qualifications.During the week the coaches will attend over 25 hours worth of lectures and conduct 30 hours’ practical training with 30 of Namibia’s best junior and senior swimmers taking part in the practical components.The course will be facilitated by World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA) director Larry Laursen .These swimmers will be filmed above water at a competition on Saturday (January 20) at the monthly NASU Age Group Gala.Each coach will have a private one-on-one underwater filming session which will be analysed in front of the coaches, so that they can learn to correct mistakes in stroke and technique that are difficult to see from the surface.Coaches will be assessed during the course and tested after the course.The lectures and practicals are designed around coaching qualifications in the USA, Australia and Britain, which will form part of the future FINA International Coaching Qualifications.NASU believes that the improvement in the Namibian standard of swimming must start with upgrading of coaches’ qualifications and experience.The President of NASU, Maren de Klerk, said NASU is very grateful for the support and co-operation given by the NNOC and Olympic Solidarity for providing financial assistance.