The 4th Workshop on Long Term Athlete Development with emphasis on Periodisation and Planning was held last Thursday and Friday February 9-10, 2017. Photo: BVIOC

Participation of the 4th Workshop on Long Term Athlete Development with emphasis on Periodisation and Planning was held last Thursday and Friday February 9-10, 2017. Photo: BVIOC

The two-day workshop which took place on February 9 and 10, 2017 at the Government Training Division Conference Room, focused on time management as a planning technique. It provides the framework for arranging the complex array of training processes (skill development, strength training, regeneration) into a logical schedule to bring about optimal improvements in performance.

The facilitator was Mr Istvan Balyi of Sport for Life, Canada, a Planning and Periodisation expert who worked with 17 different National Teams as a high performance advisor. He has led programme development in the United States, South Africa, England, Ireland, Sweden and Bahrain.

On day one representatives of the six selected sports, Basketball, Archery, Track & Field, Rugby, Sailing and Football met with Mr Balyi to analyse the work done so far on the Long Term Development of their sport.

The workshop was well received by the participants who represented the Basketball (3), Football (4), Rugby (2), Sailing (1), Archery (1), Track & Field (4), Volleyball (4), and Softball (2) Federations. Physical Education teachers (2) were also present. Also present was Mrs Heida Joyles Selwood, the supervisor of Physical Education at the Ministry level.

Coaches enlightened

Raymond ‘Chi Chi’ Fonseca of Volleyball said “the presentation was awesome and enlightening. I have learnt a lot about the importance of nutrition, mental and physical preparations of the athlete. I am now more aware of the concepts of burn out, overtraining, peaking and tapering”.  He wishes that the workshop could be run again in the near future.

Supporting the comments of Raymond was Dwayne Rubaine also of Volleyball. “As coaches we need to be more prepared and this knowledge that we have received will foster better preparation of coaches and athletes that should lead to greater success.”

Jason A. Edwin of Basketball said “The information received leads us to realise that now is the time to get rid of a lot of misconceptions. Structure must be put in place and a national sport calendar is crucial to the development of the sport of basketball.”

Dag Samuels of Track and Field said that the information is very valuable for all coaches but it must be implemented and passed through a process of trial and error for success to be realised.

Disappointing turnout

The workshop was number 4 in a series of 5. At the end of the series the sports of Basketball, Archery, Rugby, Sailing, Football and Track & Field should have a document outlining the Long Term Development of their sport.

The coordinator Mrs Angeleta Bernard was very disappointed with the turn out. “Some coaches designated by their Federation did not show up and having noted the enthusiasm of those present and the questions asked, the absent ones would have benefitted. However, I am confident that with implementation of the periodisation plan, the sports that were present will add to the successes they have had.”