Get Kids To Play - January 2025 Newsletter
Vijay Krishnamurthy
Author of "Get Kids To Play" | Sports Researcher (Ph.D.) | Executive Coach (PCC)
Coach Education is a need, not a want.
As someone who's always been captivated by the world of athletics, often hailed as the mother of all sports, I've come to appreciate its essence — the fundamental human movements of running, jumping, and throwing. These basic skills are the foundation of all other sports disciplines. In 2023, this recognition of foundational training has guided the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to adopt a unique approach: concentrating its efforts on coaching development rather than focusing solely on athletes. This strategic shift is based on the understanding that each coach can exponentially impact a vast number of athletes, creating a ripple effect of improved performance and skill development.
The AFI's awareness of India's shortage of qualified coaches led to implementing a comprehensive, tiered licensing program. This ambitious initiative aims to credential 10,000 new coaches over the next five years, significantly bolstering the nation's athletics coaching infrastructure. Contrary to common belief, many grassroots-level coaches, who typically work with the U-14 and U-16 age groups, currently operate without certification from the AFI. This gap in formal coaching education at the grassroots level can lead to notable drawbacks in the development and progression of young athletes.
To illustrate the impact of this initiative, consider the example of a small town in Kerala, where a local school's athletic program transformed dramatically after their coaches received AFI certification. Previously, the program, though enthusiastic, lacked structured training and professional guidance. However, post-certification, the coaches brought new techniques, drills, and a more scientific approach to training. The results were immediate and impressive, with the school producing several state-level champions within a few years. The transformation of this small-town program underscores the significant difference that qualified and well-trained coaches can make.
Chief National Coach P. Radhakrishnan Nair elaborates on the AFI's strategy, "We will make it mandatory for them to obtain the AFI's coaching license to train athletes from the grassroots level. Coaches at different levels have specific roles: grassroots level (pre-level-1) coach is required to teach basics and identify talent. The Level-1 coach will train youth (under-16), Level-2 coaches will train juniors (under-20), and elite coaches with Level-3 licenses will train seniors. Those with Level-4 certificates will become coaches' educators and chief coaches." This structured approach ensures that each coach is equipped with the knowledge and skills pertinent to their specific role, from introducing basic athletic movements to nurturing elite athletes.
By prioritizing the development and certification of coaches, the AFI is investing in the long-term health and success of the sport in India. It's a recognition of the path to athletic excellence in the quality of coaching athletes receive from their earliest engagement with the sport.
Why is the above structure such a critical need in our sporting ecosystem?
In India, where sporting dreams are often nurtured from a tender age, a critical trend has emerged that's reshaping the landscape of youth athletics: the push for early specialization and intense training regimens. Coach Radhakrishnan, a stalwart in the field, highlighted this pressing issue, stressing the need for a more measured and balanced approach to nurturing young talent. His insights shed light on a crucial aspect of athletic development often overlooked in the rush to produce champions.
Coach Radhakrishnan emphasized the importance of a more balanced approach. "A junior athlete should first be introduced to a multi-event, and event specialization should be done between 18 and 21. But in India, event specialization is done very early. We need to educate the coaches to prevent early burnouts due to over-training that puts undue strain on young athletes who fade away after showing early promise," he stated.
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How can School Leaders ensure that the P.E. and Sports teams continuously learn about best practices and the latest developments?
About EduSports TIPS (Training Implementation and Product Support)
(The above section is an excerpt from our book Get Kids To Play)
Get Kids To Play with Cricket Legend EAS Prasanna
领英推荐
It was an absolute privilege for Saumil and me to present our book Get Kids To Play to the iconic cricketer EAS Prasanna, who spoke about the importance of balancing sports and academics in a child's life.
Get Kids To Play Masterclass at Jio Institute
We thank Jio Institute for inviting us to a Masterclass on Career Pathways within the Schol and Grassroots Sports Ecosystem!
Get Kids To Play at IIT Bombay
Get Kids To Play book is now available in IIT Bombay Souvenir Store! We thank the Institute for supporting our book!
Get Kids To Play Summit comes to Bangalore!
At the summit, school leaders, parents, P.E. trainers, corporate industry leaders, brands, philanthropists, and policy-makers will drive insightful conversations around play and its importance. Play and sports are vital for the holistic development of children, and this summit aims to ignite a collaborative approach towards achieving the goal of getting more children to play.
To register for the event, please visit https://sportzvillage.com/get-kids-to-play-summit/
What topics would you like us to cover?
We designed the book with two critical decision-makers in mind: parents and school leaders. Both groups want to get the kids to play but often struggle with the "How?" and get bogged down with obstacles.
Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter!
-Vijay and Saumil
Authority Branding for CXOs & Experts | LinkedIn Top Voice | I help you transform your expertise into a book, build your presence on LinkedIn, and attract growth opportunities.
2 周Absolutely, Vijay. Coaching education isn’t optional, it’s essential. The right guidance keeps young talent from burning out before they even get a real shot.