EXTRAORDINARY JUMPS/THROWS UP-DATE !
Rianimarewe and David were nominated by KAA and accepted onto the Bridging Course run by Reg Brandis (Director of RDC Brisbane) and based at the QSAC. Lectures were given by Fletcher McEwen and Debbie Strange, plus demonstrations provided by a variety of local athletes (and the Course attendees !)
Today (Sunday) we had excellent demonstrations from two young Javelin throwers, Josh and Tom. The drills and transfers were clearly shown at two different levels of experience and current ability. We had to be careful about how much advice / criticism to give because they have their own coaches, whose judgement we did not wish to question.
Later in the week, a young male Hammer thrower named Aaron, who is no giant but quite slim and yet to develop any significant physique, showed the value of good technique and confidence in managing to control the timing of this most complex of throwing events. He was not without fault, which was fine for us to be able to criticise, but for most of us our experience of Hammer throwing is limited. Thus it was good that even at his adolescent age, he was able to feel and identify what mistakes he made and describe them. He had joined the Discus throwers for earlier demonstrations and there he showed his ability to adjust and modify his still fairly basic technique.
We operated in groups of four or pairs most of the time, both for theory exercises, e.g. when compiling training schedules for the year (macro-), month (meso-), or just a week (micro-). [It was noted that the longest of these need not necessarily be a calendar year, but it would be the overall training period.] Fortunately the attendees were sensitive enough to enable all participants to have an opinion and voice it, even if that opinion was eventually out-voted !
On the final evening of the course we were treated to dinner by the Course Director, Reg Brandis, (who is also the Director of the IAAF Oceania RDC in Brisbane). This was Thai-style, very delicious and very filling ! As this drew to an end (ordering the dessert !), the I-Kiribati contingent kicked off the entertainment with a couple of action songs in the Kiribati language, obviously about food and drink ! This having received a rapturous ovation and broken the ice, others felt inclined to relinquish their shyness and follow suit. Eventually Sparky and the Gang had mostly helped to entertain the others with Cook Islands, Samoan, Maori and Oz contributions. The fact that alcohol was available and consumed helped to relax the atmosphere, the tongues and the inhibitions ! Some of us will meet again in Samoa next month !
Considerable thanks are due - and were given - to Reg, Peter, Fletcher, Debbie, the "lunch lady" and all the athletes who helped to make the Course so useful to the participants. As a consequence, when the next CECS Level 2 actually happens (in 2007 ?), we will be more ready !
Last Modified on 02/12/2006 11:45