The president of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee, Maria Soto, and the VOC Secretary General, Katiuska Santaella, who is also President of the Venezuela Judo Federation, invited Neil and Niki Adams, both Olympians, to teach their methodology of coach education. Soto was particularly interested in being involved, from a coaching perspective, reflecting on her time as an Olympic handball athlete, Venezuela’s flag bearer at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
More than 70 coaches from all over Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Columbia attended. Niki Adams said, “Seeing the progression of skills and retention of information was really satisfying. By day 3, coaches were able to use the plans and protocols we gave them and they were able to adapt them to specific goals successfully and in a positive, progressive way.”
Neil Adams added, “There was an amazing effort from all and a keenness to learn and improve. Many are already teachers in school and were able to recognise the methodology and pedagogy of the lessons and the seminar as a whole.
We’re in talks to come back next year and deliver to their national team. We streamed it on one day too, making it a resource that’s available more widely.“
Coach education has been a hot topic for the IJF for many years now with the introduction of the UCJI through the IJF Academy becoming a main feature of every continental calendar. The latest UCJI cohort is currently completing their practical sessions in Cuba, showing just how much development activity is happening in Pan America.