A Sports School is badly needed

By Hafiz Marikar

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who is doing a good job, is keen in starting a sports school.

As far as sports is concerned, it is part and parcel of our culture and lifestyle, that will never diminish. Sports will go on regardless but will also gain a great deal from the new facilities where everyone and every sport organizations from school levels to club and National will benefit.

Sri Lanka right now is very fortunate to have a dynamic President Mahinda Rajapaksa a keen follower of all sports, will give his best of support to his able Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to come out with a vision and motto of the Sports Ministry to identify the prospect of introducing a school for sports, especially for there development projects to build on the position it presently holds at the forefront of all sports, particularly the Footballers, Ruggerites, and Hockey players.

The idea of starting a school of this nature will help these three sports immensely.

The time is now conducive to set-off on this project which is a long overdue and it is going to help the young sportsmen in a big way which eventually will benefit the Nation and beyond.

What is a sports school and how does it operate? Sports School in relation to sports is a vast complex with a well laid out playing field with all facilities which is needed for all three sports.

A vital wing of the school is the indoor gymnasium. This must be constructed with a multi-purpose utility value. The playing field should also have facilities for athletic events. This is because sprint, long distance running, high jump and long jump are absolute essentialities for training. Weight training is also essential. The class rooms for lectures and a well equipped library, not only comprising the latest in publications, but also films and video clips should be set up in the complex.

Trainers and coaches must be afforded innovative approach in combining management training and outdoor adventure, providing total solutions, these include accommodation, meals, language translation, course facilitators, instructional material, audio video equipment etc.

Custom-made programmes to achieve the specific goals like what football have at Baddegana Training centre. The youth trainee must be made to feel that he is the most wanted and important commodity of the development of the game. Medical facilities with the initiative of the Sports Medicine doctor in attendance when the trainees commence will be another need.

The medical section should have the necessary means to under take emergency operations for external injuries as well as for `X’ Raying and setting of broke bones.

A physiotherapist with physiotherapy apparatus and a massage facilities are also needed.

Today massaging is a passive form of exercise which helps to warm up at quick tempo and to relax the tense muscles which could help a longer period of muscular activity.

It is believed that the smooth performance of a player depends on his muscles being relaxed and such a massage plays a vital part in the physical; activity of a player.

The equipment and apparatus provided for all aspects for training in a sports school should be of high quality instructed by trained persons. Faulty or substandard equipment can cause not only injury to trainees, but also be detrimental to their enthusiasm.

Wholesome, balanced and fresh food must take pride of place in the menu provided to the trainees.

Being away from home, the trainee must be made to feel that he is in a happier home and must be nourished with enjoyable food.

The personnel controlling the sports school should comprise - (A) Managing Director, (B) Venue Manager, (C) Coaches, (D) Trainees. These personnel should draw up a comprehensive and a scientific programme based on a set syllabus for the various age groups in keeping with their needs. In drawing this syllabus, the general policy with regard to the style of play should be borne in mind. The styles of play should blend with the national characteristics, which influences a natural style.

A scientific assessment of the needs of each player, and provide a custom - made training programme. This will provide learning outcomes that are aligned with the long-term strategy of each client. It is said that our youth are exposed to all different types of approach of techniques which are not only confusing, and redundant practices, unproductive to the sport training. This is due to the lack of a national training policy and in selecting the right candidate to undergo coaching techniques.

The school can provide this directive which will go out in the form of the coaches and players being trained in an uniform pattern. In today’s training there’s a lot of things lacking, modern training methods, the players who lack the basic skills have to be provided opportunities and the relevant scope for perfection. Hence condition Training must take top priority when instilling basic knowledge to the trainees.

Today players are involved in unwanted happenings where their coaches promote them to take banned stuff, suspending players is of no use, must suspend the people who introduce and import these sort of stuff.