In an attempt to improve the region’s coaching knowledge in the jumping discipline, the Jakarta Regional Development Center (RDC) organized a two-week International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) level II course on education and certification course for track and field officials from Jan. 11 to Jan. 23 at the Madya Athletics Stadium in the Bung Karno Sports Complex, Central Jakarta.

Course lecturer Ralph Mouchbahani urged the trainers to improve their coaching knowledge in the bid to improve the region’s athletic performance in international events, including in the four major jumping disciplines.

“The main problem in athletic development in some Asian countries, including Indonesia, is that the coaches have little knowledge about the coaching techniques,” Mouchbahani, who is currently based in Singapore, was quoted as saying by The Jakarta Post.

Brunei Darussalam, India, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka each sent a coach while Singapore sent two coaches. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s lone representative, national junior team high jump coach I Ketut Gde Widiana, withdrew due to a family emergency.

Jumping disciplines consist of the high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault. “Jump is an athletic discipline with complexities. And that requires the coaches to be able to tackle those complexities,” Mouchbahani said. Although acknowledging that an athlete’s build is a factor in achievement, he said more important was the guidance of their coaches.

“Physical talent constitutes only a small percentage,” Mouchbahani said. “Athletes with less physical talent can be trained into good ones if guided properly. So development depends on the coaches.”

RDC director Ria Lumintuarso, who was also the co-lecturer in the course, said being a good coach entailed the ability to formulate a comprehensive training program for their athletes. “After the course, we will monitor them to ensure that they apply their knowledge in their respective federations,” Ria said.

Participants covered varied items related to coaching from coaching process and basic physiology to microcycle workshop and monitoring of performances in their classroom sessions. They also engaged in practical training sessions in each jumping event from teaching an event to technical drills and observations. Other materials given included biomechanics, plyometrics, injury management an psychology performance.