Noc-k youth development coaching course begins online.

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya,NOC-K has begun a two-day online coaching training as the committee kick starts its ambitious elite youth development program.

While launching the program on Friday NOC-K President Paul Tergat revealed that this was part of the committee’s preparations in earnest for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games which will be held in Dakar, Senegal, and this year’s Africa Youth Games in Egypt, Cairo.

“Today’s training targets youth coaches to ensure they are aligned and adequately prepared to deliver services during next week’s Youth Camp. Indeed, our NOC-K 2022-2024 Strategic Direction envisions a deliberate effort towards a Youth Development Program, geared on the road to the next round of African Games, Paris 2024 Olympics, and equally, the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games,” said Tergat.

The training which has a total of 36 coaches, nominated through various federations, focuses on equipping coaches with knowledge on how to better handle, train and manage budding athletes.

The training is a multi-commissioned program with the elite development program, working closely with Youth Commission, NOC-K Institute and Medical Commission.

Local and international experts are set to participate in the training after which coaches trained are expected to run a 14-day Youth Camp.

Some of the participants who encouraged the wholistic approach to training advising against laboured focus on ‘winning mentality’.

“We should not put pressure on our young athletes with the “train to win” mentality as coaches when we ought to be teaching the fundamentals of a particular sport. This is a development phase in an athlete’s career ” Kimani Geoffrey a strength and conditioning coach remarked.

Tennis coach and sports scientist Rosemary Owino is one of the speakers scheduled and will take the participants through youth physical development and maturation and nutrition.

By Fred Odanga Azelwa.