Insights into the training of athletics coaches in Kenya
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Date
2008
Authors
Mwisukha, A.
Njororai, W.W.S.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tshwane University of Technology
Abstract
As the coaching of athletics becomes more complex due to the scientific and technological
components involved, the need for adequate and thorough training of coaches is imperative. The fact
that athletic is highly competitive makes it necessary for coaches to be exposed to all the necessary
content and be skilled to enable them to guide their athletes most effectively. However, several local
studies in Kenya (Kubai, 1992 Muriithi, 1997) have blamed Kenya's unimpressive performance in
sprints and field events on coaches and their quality of coaching. It is in the light of this that this study
was conducted to assess the training of athletics coaches in Kenya. The study focused on levels of
training, content, examinations and competence of instructors and frequency of pre-service and inservice
courses for coaches. A survey research design was used. A randomly selected sample of 101(75%) athletics coaches,
23(75%) government sports officers and 105(75%) Athletics Kenya officials, all drawn from the
provincial and national offices provided the required data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics
were used to analyze the data. The largest proportion of the coaches had been trained through the IAAF certification programme and
had attained the lowest level of training, the level I. Coaching Theory and Practice received most
attention in the content covered but Psychology of Sport received least coverage. The course
instructors were rated as competent. Pre- service and in-service courses were infrequent. Arising
from these results, the need for a centralized National Academy to conduct comprehensive and
regular coaching courses is recommended.
Description
A paper presented at the 1st continental ICCE conference for Africa, 23rd - 25th October 2008, Tshwane University of Technology