SVGTTA defers level one coaching course

The much publicised level one coaching course, which was to be staged by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association from October 12 to 22, has been pushed back to sometime in early 2016.{{more}}

Instead, the services of Swiss national Georg Silberschmidt will be engaged for the next four weeks for the development of a National Sports Structure Programme.

Outlining his plan of action, Silberschmidt told SEARCHLIGHT that in developing the structure, the national table tennis body, the National Olympic Committee, the Ministries of Education and Sports, all must be engaged in the process.

Silberschmidt, who first visited St Vincent and the Grenadines in November 2013, stated, “Right now is to get a closer picture to what’s going on, what kind of structure is existing, who is playing, how many times they are playing.”

He noted that among his immediate tasks is to visit as many primary and secondary schools as possible and make assessments and give guidance accordingly.

“The main thing is that it must be something sustainable … I am here as the leader, but I need people here to work with me and make the follow-up after I (have) left,” Silberschmidt said.

The DNSSP is part of an Olympic Solidarity undertaking which would see Silberschmidt returning to St Vincent and the Grenadines in January for another two weeks.

He projected that this is most likely when the level one coaching certification course will take place.

Silberschmidt will conclude his stint in February/March, when he is expected to spend four weeks here and hopefully administer a level two coaching certification programme.(RT)