9 March 2011 - Good start for EMAU training of Coaching Course Conductors

Good start for EMAU training of Coaching Course Conductors Lausanne – 9 March 2011  On Sunday 28 February 2011 fourteen coaches from eleven different countries across Europe converged upon the beautiful and historic town of Compiegne (FRA), just north of Paris. The purpose of their journey was to participate in the first EMAU Coaching Course Conductors course. The first leg of the EMAU 1-year project was well appreciated by the participants.   Following our article published on 4 March 2011, Pat LYONS, a Coaching Course Conductor Candidate from Ireland, wrote the below report on behalf of the participants.   This exciting new development from FITA, being spearheaded by Pascal COLMAIRE and Andre KORLAAR, is designed to provide the participants with the necessary skills to train coaches and to develop coach education systems in their native countries.   Just as the skills necessary for shooting are different from those necessary for successful coaching, those required of a course conductor also are different and have to be identified and developed.   This intensive and cohesive course was held at the state of the art facilities of the Archers De Compiegne. With almost ten hours per day devoted to a lively mixture of class work and practical sessions, a wide range of subjects and techniques was covered.   In an environment conducive to learning the coaches were encouraged to share their own methods and views on the subject of coach education.  The interaction between the instructors and coaches allowed for the frank exchange of information and knowledge from many countries that will be of enormous benefit to the development of archery in the future.   Those involved emerged with a motivation to improve coaching and coaching structures of their native countries and further afield.   All those involved would like to extend their appreciation to the Archers De Compiegne and their staff. Thanks EMAU, Olympic Solidarity, the European Olympic Committees (EOC), the people and council of Compiegne for their warm welcome and to Mr Philippe BOUCLET (*) for his support and assistance.   And finally, to those at the FITA office who undertake so many projects throughout the year, "Merci Bien!"   The participants have now one year to prepare, conduct a coaching course and to report about it, before a second training to be held again in France.   World Archery Development Department   (*) Mr Philippe BOUCLET represented World Archery as Vice-President, EMAU as Council Member, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) as Deputy Secretary General and the French Archery Federation (FFTA) as President.