Sri Lanka Athletics seeks boost in standards by conducting Level II coaches’ course

Sri Lanka Athletics seeks to improve the standards of coaches specializing in jumps, sprints, and hurdles by conducting its first-ever World Athletics Coaches Education Certification System (CECS) Level II coaches’ course in Sri Lanka.

Lal Chandrakumara, the Chairman of the Coaching Committee of Sri Lanka Athletics said that it was a rare opportunity for local coaches as Sri Lanka Athletics is hosting the Level II coaches’ course here for the first time.

“It is the first time that a Level II course is conducted here. When we conduct such a course here we can give the opportunity to more than a dozen coaches at once,” said Chandrakumara in an interview with The Island.

“Up to now, we have been sending coaches overseas for Level II courses. At overseas courses, we could get opportunities only for a couple of coaches annually or biennially. Since we are conducting the course here this time we can provide the opportunity to as many as 16 coaches,” said Chandrakumara, who is also a vice president of Sri Lanka Athletics.

Lal Chandrakumara

Sri Lanka Athletics will receive the support of the National Olympic Committee to bear the costs involved in conducting the course.

According to the senior official of Sri Lanka Athletics, some 96 coaches have successfully concluded the Level I course during the last five years. Of them, the coaches who have fulfilled the eligibility criteria can apply for the course. There are also other coaches who had been waiting for more than two decades for a Level II course after having done their Level I courses years ago.

Chandrakumar said two courses for sprints and hurdles and jumps will be held. He said that there was a shortage of Level II coaches for jumping events. And the upcoming course will be for coaches specializing in jumping events.

The first of the two courses will be held in two months time.

Ria Lumintuarso, the Director of the World Athletics Regional Development Centre, Jakarta, Indonesia who has held successful Level I courses here previously will conduct the course.

Level II coaches courses are conducted in five event groups, namely, sprints and hurdles, middle / long distance running/ race walks, jumps, throws and combined events.