The Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices ( POCACOV)has charged Coaches in the country to adopt sports parenting approach as a means of producing quality sports men and women in the country.
The National Coordinator of POCACOV CSP Ebere Amaraizu gave the charge on Monday In Abuja during an engagement program held for students undergoing training at the National Institute For Sports to become a Sports Coach.
Amaraizu stressed that sports parenting will enable them to discover Young and talented athletes from communities/Neighbourhood, transfer skills, make them to grow from their mistakes to become a champion as well as helping to create a platform for a life changing opportunities which will help in turning them into National Assets rather than becoming liabilities.
According to Amaraizu who’s also a certified Coach from National Institute For Sports (NIS), “sports is a veritable Instrument For National Security because it is problem solving and provides a framework for diversion of minds from negativity to positivity. It also creates a strong platform of engagement and life changing opportunities for young minds by offering them employment opportunities and improving their fortunes.
“Sports improves cognitive, affective and psychomotor abilities and helps in strengthening resilience amongst young minds which is needed to have internal order, tolerance and never say die spirit in the pursuit of our endeavours.”
He further reminded the students who will be turned into sports coaches shortly after a successful completion of their courses to see themselves as role models, mentors and guardians to their athletes and ensure that necessary adult guidance are given to them.
“As a Coach, you must present yourself as a good role model to your athletes and you must avoid any negative behaviour before them as this is capable of inspiring them negatively .You must be in control of your emotions and must exhibit high sense of responsibility and you must be ready at all times to lay a good foundation of hope and virtues.
“A good coach must not be careless on the use of words in communicating with athletes to avoid causing emotional trauma to athletes which could bring about rancour, bitterness, non performance amongst others.
“We must give them that opportunity that will help them to be discovered and they must be inspired to promote positive behaviours in them and to affect positively on their mindsets and that way ,we would have promoted a framework for a functional community.
“Coaches must be positive by setting out a standard that will discourage substance and drug abuse, violent behaviours, betting, waging and other forms of vices and ensure that the energy of young minds are well channeled and utilized for positivity.”
In his reaction, the Coordinator, National Institute for Sports (Athlete Development Centre) Abuja, Mrs Salome Tissing Dandam, thanked the POCACOV National Coordinator & his Team for visiting the institute and giving the trainees the needed message.
Mrs. Dandam who is also a POCACOV Stakeholder further appreciated Nigeria Police Force for the POCACOV Initiative which according to her, is a sustainable measure and solution to youth challenges and for a greater society.
JOURNALIST101 gathered that no fewer than 200 students from all over the country are undertaking various coaching training courses.
They’re undergoing training in swimming, athletics, Taekwondo, Handball, Volley ball, Chess, Football, basketball, Cricket, Cycling, table tennis amongst others.
