A three-day seminar was recently organised for coaches and organising secretaries of Edo State Sports Council as part of efforts to enhance their ability and capability by the State Sports Council.
In a paper titled “Sports as a Unifying factor in Present Day Society”, Mr. Sunny Airende, Assistant Director of Sports, Planning, Research and Programme, described sports as an instrument for promoting unity, group solidarity, understanding and cooperation among people of diverse cultures, religion, race, age and ethnic divisions.
Mr. Airende further described sports as a social product of the society with many faces and different characteristics, adding that sports have encroached into almost all human activities.
In another paper titled “Qualities of a good coach in sports productivity” by Charity Igbinedion, Acting Director of Sports, Edo State Sports Council, identified the qualities of a good coach to include: adequate knowledge and skill, must possess a personal philosophy which must be in line with that of the school in particular and education in general, must have courage to protect athletes from injury, maintain dignified and gentlemanly behaviour inspite of game crisis, athletes’ blunders or official decision against his team, and must be a true sportsman.
She similarly identified sense of humour, must have ability to put together bits of former experiences in new arrangements, should be resourceful, amongst others, as the qualities of a good coach.
