BY RICHARD MENANOPO
Physical Education (PE) teachers from schools across Honiara have completed a two-day coaching and officiating course that aims to strengthen sports development within schools and communities in the capital.
The Oceania Sport Education Programme (OSEP) Community Coach & Official (CC&O) training, facilitated by the National Sports Council, concluded on Tuesday at the Multi-Purpose Hall in Honiara after bringing together PE teachers from various Honiara City Council schools.
While the programme focused on improving coaching and officiating knowledge, participants also highlighted the wider impact sport can have on students and young people throughout the country.
One of the participants, Tuvaruhu Community High School sports master James Lee Hari’araha, described the training as both valuable and timely for teachers involved in school sports.
Hari’araha said the course had broadened his understanding of coaching and equipped teachers with practical skills needed to guide students in different sporting activities.
“The programme gives us teachers and sports masters more knowledge about different types of sports which we can run in our schools,” he said.
He explained that the training will help teachers become more effective coaches during school competitions and sporting events.
“When sports events come up, we will be able to tackle them properly by giving instructions and quality teaching to students in different sports,” Hari’araha added.
According to him, the training also reinforced the importance of physical education and sport in promoting healthy lifestyles among students and teachers alike.
He said sport plays a major role not only in physical fitness but also in helping young people stay engaged in positive activities.
“It contributes a lot to the well-being of teachers, coaches and students. It is also good for the development of sport inside schools and in Solomon Islands as a whole,” he said.
Hari’araha further noted that one of the most important lessons from the workshop was understanding the difference between good and bad coaching styles.
He stressed that good coaching was essential in helping young athletes grow and enjoy sport in a positive environment.
“The most important part we learned is good coaching. Many coaches know it, but sometimes they do not use it properly. That is one thing we will take back from this programme,” he said.
He also believes programmes such as the OSEP training can have a long-term impact on students by encouraging them to participate in sport and stay away from negative activities.
The training was conducted from May 11 to 12 after being requested by the HCC Sports Division as part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of PE teachers involved in school sports development.
HCC Sports Development Officer Chris Bakeua said the objective was to equip teachers with practical coaching and officiating skills that would support school sports programmes and preparations for the upcoming HCC Athletics Championship in June.
The training was facilitated by OSEP Master Educator and NSC Education Manager Atueta Balekana together with OSEP Educator and NSC Provincial Sports and Recreational Coordinator Carlson Hagemana.
Participants represented schools including Naha CHS, Koloale CHS, Honiara High School, Mbua Valley CHS, Vura CHS, St John CHS, Tuvaruhu CHS, Mbokona CHS, Panatina CHS, Mbokonavera CHS and White River CHS.
The Oceania Sport Education Programme (OSEP) is a regional initiative supported across Pacific countries to strengthen sports education, coaching, officiating and community participation in sport. In Solomon Islands, the programme is regularly facilitated through the National Sports Council to support capacity building for teachers, coaches and sports administrators.
Photo credit: NSC
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