The 8 days International Table Tennis Federation- Para Table Tennis (ITTF-PTT) Coaches Course Level I ended today. With support from the Olympic Solidarity, the Course was conducted by the Bhutan Table Tennis Federation (BTTF) at the National Table Tennis Coaching Center at Chubachu, Thimphu from 21st to 28th December, 2015. Mr. Arif Khan from Pakistan was the Course Director.
ITTF-PTT Coaches Course Level I participants.
Mr. Arif Khan played for Pakistan from 1974 to 1998. He was awarded “President’s Pride of Performance Award” (highest sports award in Pakistan) by the President of Pakistan in recognition for outstanding achievements as a table tennis players in 1990. At present he is working as an International Table Tennis Federation course director as well as coach.
The course director focused on the basic techniques to coach the beginners, both in theory and practical sessions. The course covered the following:
- Generic coaching principles,
- Coaching beginners and school coaching,
- Techniques beyond basics,
- Introduction to physical training,
- Introduction to sports sciences, and
- Tournament organization and rules.
A total of 27 participants (21 male & 6 female) consisting of Health & Physical Education (HPE) teachers, School Sports Instructors, National Table Tennis coaches and senior Table Tennis players attended the course. These participants were nominated from Thimphu, Tsirang, Phuntsholing and Wangduephodrang Dzongkhag and they will return to their respective Dzongkhags and conduct a coaching programmes for children, and implement the knowledge that they have gained from the course.
Mr. Hemraj Subba, HPE teacher from Phuentsholing Higher Secondary School said “The coaching course was very enriching as it was linked with the grassroot level and all the basics of Table Tennis were covered. After this program, I will report to the General Secretary, Phuentsholing Sports Association, and also Thromdae Office, and discuss further with them on how we can develop Table Tennis in Phuentsholing.”
In the closing ceremony, the participants were awarded a certificate. In his closing remark, Mr. Sonam Karma Tshering, Secretary General, Bhutan Olympic Committee said, “As long as you are willing to work hard, we at the Bhutan Olympic Committee & the BTTF are willing to support you.”
The course director, informed the participants that those who passed the course should attend the Level II course in December, 2016.
