Vincentian Swim coach receives PAISAC certification

Tamarah St Hilaire is now the holder of the National Coaching Certification of the Coaching Association of Canada.

Held under the aegis of International Support Programme to African and Caribbean Sport (PIASAC), and funded Olympic Solidarity, St Hilaire completed her certification with a three- week face to face session in Montreal, Canada from May 15 to June 1.

This face to face session was preceded by online sessions, which were completed in November, 2022.

A swim coach for the past five years, and an integral part of the Blue Marlins Swim Club, here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Hilaire noted that the experience will serve her and the sport in good stead.

“ I am ready and raring to apply what I now know to aid the development of Swimming especially in

St Vincent and the Grenadines”, St Hilaire commented.

Assessing the road towards the successful journey, St Hilaire said “ It was a good experience because I would have learnt some new things, hence my knowledge in swimming is better”.

Outlining some of the areas covered during the course, St Hilaire said, “We looked at long- term athlete development (LTAD); performance planning; physical preparation; mindfulness; Olympic

programme; as well as nutrition”.

St Hilaire, who has had experience travelling with a national swim team, expressed gratitude to the

St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation and by extension, the St Vincent and the

Grenadines Olympic Committee for facilitating her involvement in the programme.

Apart from St Vincent and the Grenadines, participants were drawn from Kenya, Nigeria, Jamaica, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Tanzania, Buthan, Uganda and Barbados.

The PAISAC programme has its origins in the Ivory Coast between 1997 and 1999. Developed over the years, PAISAC primarily focuses on coaching education and applied sciences.