Butler tops course

Former St Vincent and the Grenadines, Windwards and West Indies cricketer Deighton Butler topped the class in the IAAF/CECS (Coaches Education Certificate Systems) Level 1, 10-day youth coaching course, which ended on Wednesday.{{more}}

Butler, who retired from first class cricket in 2010, has since secured a Level 2 coaching certificate from the West Indies Cricket Board and is pursuing a career in umpiring, having completed the regional examination recently.

Butler, who has played five One Day Internationals for the West Indies and one T-20 international, was among all 29 successful participants, selected mainly from the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Programme.

The Level 1 course, sponsored by Olympic Solidarity, was held at the Arnos Vale Playing Field and conducted by local facilitators Rosmund Griffith, Woodrow Williams and Rawlson Morgan.

The participants were introduced to the rudiments of running, jumping and throwing, as well as the Kids in Athletics programme.

Speaking at the closing ceremony at the President’s Suite at the Arnos Vale venue, General Secretary of the National Olympic Committee and President of Team Athletics SVG Keith Joseph implored the coaches to make a difference when they embark on their tasks.

“… You have a responsibility to work with the children and help them understand the importance of physical activities to their lives … It is first and foremost to get them to love and enjoy playing sports … Let them understand that playing is fun … Let it not be said that sports is for those who can’t do academics,” Joseph told the coaches.

Joseph, however, recognized that the coaches have a hard task ahead of them, as unlike other subject areas, physical education is only introduced at the secondary level, “when it is too old to bend the tree.

“It is difficult to introduce children to the fundamentals when they are that old … Every subject area they give you all that you need, but what they give you for PE?” Joseph said rhetorically.

The latest batch of certified Level One coaches brings the number trained over the years to about 150. (RT)