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Coaches urged to attend Saturday athletics course
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Posted on Mar 10 2005
The Northern Mariana Islands Track and Field Federation is urging all school coaches or teachers who train students in athletics to take part in this tomorrow’s introductory course.
According to NMITFF official Elias Rangamar, the course was set up to provide basic knowledge for coaches for better understanding of the sport, their roles as coaches, as well as for conducting trainings for the students in hopes of preventing injuries.
“This course is basically for the coaches to get an understanding of development,” Rangamar said yesterday. “It’s for the safety of the kids. In the past, some coaches would put kids in events that they’re not trained for or built for, and when they collapse, they can get a negative view on the sport.”
The course, scheduled to run from 8:30am to 12pm at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room, will also feature sessions for coaches to raise questions about the development of an athlete in training.
The course was set up especially for coaches to prepare for the upcoming annual All Schools Track and Field Championships set to unfold on May 7.
Due to the enormous number of athletes, all interested must compete to earn slots in the May 7 finals. Time trials begin on April 5 and continue on April 30 at the Oleai Sports Complex track and field facility.
During the trials, athletes will compete against athletes from other schools for the right to advance in 14 different events.
Also, four age groups have been set, such as nine-and-under, 11-and-under, 13-and-under, and 18-and-under.
Running events include 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, and two relays, while other events include long jump, shot put, discuss, softball throw, and javelin.
Meanwhile, the NMITFF will host an All Comers Meet on March 19, which will serve as a qualifier for the upcoming South Pacific Mini Games in Palau this summer.
Coaches interested in taking part in the course or confirming teams for the time trials may contact Rangamar at 664-2502 or via email at eli_rang@yahoo.com, NMITFF president Kurt Barnes at 234-5498 ext. 1008 or email at kurtb@nmcnet.edu, or federation treasurer Robin Sapong at sapong@vzpacifica.net for more information.
