Training clinic for taekwondo instructors

LuciahPhahla

Maseru

Lesotho Taekwondo Association (LTA) will hold a training clinic for taekwondo instructors in Maseru later this month.

The purpose of the training, which will run from April 25 to 30, is to keep local coaches abreast of international standards and to accommodate new trainers who have not had an opportunity to attend training before.

The seminar will be conducted by Lesotho national coach Du-Kwhi Lee of South Korea.

According to LTA public relations officer, Likhama Leuta, all LTA registered trainers from around the country are expected to attend the course.

He said instructors from the districts will arrive on April 24 with those close toMaseru gathering on April 25. The trainers will stay together for the whole week.

Leuta said the course is important because some trainers still use old methods causing players to face difficulties when they are selected to the national team because Lee uses modern techniques and skills.

He said the week-long training will provide coaches an opportunity to learn the right of ways of teaching players.

“Taekwondo, like any other sport in the world, is growing and we found it very important to equip the coaches with skills so they can keep up with the changes,” Leuta told theposton Monday.

“Some of the coaches received their training a long time back and it’s important to remind them what they learned and educate them even more. Others are literally new and have never undergone any sort of training before.”

He added: “Many coaches still use old ways of training players and the players find it very difficult when they are selected to the national team. Taekwondo keeps on evolving; this training will make it easy for the coaches as well as the players so that they do not struggle to adapt when they are called to the national team.”

Leuta revealed that LTA also aims to curb complaints at tournaments which he said are triggered by a lack of knowledge of refereeing rules and standards.

He conveyed the governing body’s desire to ensure trainers know the rules of the game so they pass correct knowledge to players.

LTA president Moshoeshoe Molapo will tutor trainers on refereeing practices at the training course, Leuta said.

“It’s important to train coaches so that they train players basing themselves on the rules of the game. They normally complain about being cheated at tournaments and you can see it’s because they do not have adequate knowledge of the rules,” Leuta said.

Leuta said due to financial difficulties the association is facing, LTA will also use the occasion to hold its annual general meeting (AGM).

During the AGM the association’s president, secretary general and finance personnel are expected to present their reports.