GHB to stage coaches development workshop

The Guyana Hockey Board has organised a  Coaches’ Development Workshop at the Thomas Lands YMCA as the board pushes its new initiative to revive hockey in schools.

The Workshop, which runs from 1pm  to 5pm today is specifically geared towards developing beginner coaches who are likely to conduct school-level coaching sessions in the upcoming months says GHB president Philip Fernandes.

According to Fernandes, the Board has prepared a syllabus of material which will serve to guide coaches involved in the schools programme and will be presented to all the coaches that attend tomorrow’s clinic.

Apart from the content of what is to be taught however, the focus of the workshop will be on coaching skills especially in working with junior hockey players who are new to the game.

The workshop is expected to attract 12 – 15 coaches from the hockey fraternity and will comprise both  a theory presentation segment and a practical application segment.

Fernandes said in order to get coaches ready for the immediate implementation of hockey in the schools there will be a strong focus on having the participants themselves conduct mini-coaching exercises from which they can be assessed and advised.

The GHB’s school initiative has already begun at North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, St. Joseph’s High School and Marian Academy while several other schools have been engaged and are expected to join the programme soon.

The Board’s Junior development programme is very active in the mining town of Linden where youths in that community are under the guidance of former Guyana Defence Force first division player Keith Gordon.

Former national female coach Steve Clarke who is based in the United States donated hockey sticks and balls to the Linden junior players when he visited Guyana recently.