Muscat: The Sports Training Forum, held as part of the Athletes Preparation System Project, concluded on Wednesday. The forum was supervised by the National Teams Department of the General Directorate of Sports Care and Development at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. It saw the participation of 60 coaches from the Athletes Preparation Centres, the Oman School Sports Association and Sultan Qaboos University. The forum was held from September 23 to 25. The closing ceremony was attended by Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, and it included the launch of the 'Coaches' Manual', a booklet summarising the key points discussed during the forum.
This forum is part of the plan set by the committee overseeing the Athletes Preparation System Project, which aims to qualify and develop coaches' skills in various fields, including physical fitness, biological training and the specific requirements of hockey, handball, basketball and volleyball. The forum featured lectures and practical applications led by international trainers Marc Dagenais and Steven Ramsbottom from Canada, focusing on effective coaching methods, developing physical fitness elements and biological training, with a special focus on coaching young athletes aged 11 to 15.
Coaches' Manual
One of the main outcomes of the forum was the launch of the 'Coaches' Manual', a comprehensive training guide designed to support coaches in enhancing athletes' performance using science-based training techniques. This detailed guide provides participants with advanced insights into modern training methodologies and strategies essential for sports professionals. It covers key aspects such as skill acquisition, effective communication during training and the integration of the four main pillars of coaching: physical, technical, tactical and mental. The bulletin aims to help coaches create a positive training and educational environment, improve athlete engagement, and guide them towards success in their respective sports.
The 'Coaches' Manual' highlights the importance of acquiring fundamental skills through coaches' guidance, addressing different stages of training, including the cognitive stage, where athletes learn basic movements, the associative stage, where they link different movements, and the autonomous stage, where they master skills automatically without continuous guidance. Training methods are tailored to each athlete's progress level, allowing coaches to adapt sessions to ensure skill retention and sustainable athlete development over the long term.
The 'Coaches' Manual' also presents effective training techniques, such as blocked and random practice, which aim to balance skill mastery with the ability to adapt to new and unexpected situations. It emphasises the importance of continuous feedback and regular repetition as vital elements in improving athletic performance. Repetition helps solidify skills, while feedback provides athletes with immediate insights, enabling them to learn from their mistakes more effectively.
Additionally, the 'Coaches' Manual' integrates the four key pillars of training (physical, technical, tactical and mental) to ensure athletes' comprehensive preparation for the physical and mental demands of competitive sports. Through this integrated approach, coaches can ensure that athletes not only improve their physical performance, but also develop their tactical thinking, handle pressure and make quick decisions during matches.
Photos by: Yahya al Buraiki
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