“Structuring Belize Athletics for Success”, A B.A.A. Workshop

Over the weekend, The Belize Athletics Association held a first-of-its-kind workshop led by athletic coaches from Jamaica. That Caribbean nation is known for producing world-class athletes in various disciplines. They were here to impart some of their knowledge and experience to those in Belize who are passionate about advancing sports and athletes. Those discussions proved to be fruitful in concept. We spoke with a couple of the coaches, as well as the president of the Belize Athletics Association about the way forward.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Four athletics coaches from Jamaica were in Belize over the weekend for a first-of-its-kind sports workshop. Organized by the Belize Athletics Association, the theme of the workshop was Structuring Belize Athletics for Success.

 

Cojac Smith, President, Belize Athletics Association

“One of the things that came out which we all agreed on was the lack of communication and collaboration among various disciplines and the shortcoming with funding, infrastructure and facilities. So those were the major points as I am sure you are aware of and everyone is aware of. We are all facing the same challenges. So we need to come up with a community effort and mitigate those issues going forward.”

 

 

 

The Jamaican coaches agreed that one of the areas of improvements that is needed to advance sports in Belize is increased collaboration with the Ministry of Education. We spoke with a couple of the coaches about how this concept is being implemented in Jamaica.

 

Neil Harrison, Track and Field Coach

“It is imperative that you have a designed curriculum that every school in Belize is following this kind of curriculum. From an academic and theoretical perspective, the kindergarten, the primary Shcools, the high schools, coming straight up to the tertiary institutions and once you have this kind of structure it lends itself to a much better product in terms of how do we find talent in Jamacia. It is through the PE classes and the PE teachers just seeing the boys running up and down, climbing and they say based on this one, based on the kind of a activity they are doing, we can put them into various discipline.”

 

 

Marlon Gayle, Lecturer, Physical Education

“Sports are driven back home by our principals, from the primary level and secondary. At both levels you have their association then ensure the quality of sports from one level to the next helps that sort of transition to the next level. Our principal plays a key role along with staff. So every school has a setup to harness these talents.”

 

 

 

And with every discussion related to sports in Belize, a lack of adequate infrastructure is always raised as a talking point. This weekend was no different and varying views were shared. Physical Education lecturer Marlon Gayle had his thoughts on the conversation.

 

Marlon Gayle

“We are faced with the same situation like every other Caribbean countries and countries outside the Caribbean as it relates to sports and so forth but that dedication and commitment ultimately drives coaches to do very well. We don’t have all the necessary resource. We don’t have all the tracks in every area. What we have now is as a result of the work that has been done over the last hundred years. But the thing is, these did not just come as a result of government funding. It was a result of the work we put in then we realized what our potential was. Then our investment in it ultimately overtime would have taken us to that point. The same thing can happen here and greater. Our kindergarten and primary schools they all train on grass. Belize has a lot of land. There is absolutely no excuse for Belize and other country that we don’t have  certain resources.”

 

One thing was agreed upon by all four coaches and those in attendance at this week’s training, there is a need for greater collaborative efforts among all the sporting associations and federations in Belize. A suggestion has been made for the development of a unified sports strategy led by those passionate about seeing greater advancement in the various disciplines. These four coaches noted that Jamaica does not have a secret formula outside of passion and dedication to sports.

 

 

 

 

Neil Harrison

“I don’t think Jamaica has adequate funding to support sports in its entirety but I do believe when you are a winner you have many mothers and fathers. When you are a loser you become an orphan. So as coaches, the kind of level of passions we do have and how we try to unearth talent and you just want to get one person that is going to do well and that is going to sell your country and the powers that be is going to do everything to get that funding because remember Jamaica is known because of not only we are Jamaica, Jamaica is know because we have someone who can run fast or some footballers who play good football or some netballers or the Sunshine girls. We are well known because of sports. Everywhere you go people can tell you about a Shelly-Anne Frazer, an Ellaine, a Usain Bolt. We started with some simple athletes who are now world beaters.”

 

Cojac Smith

“One of the things that came out, would athletics take the lead and we don’t mind taking the lead. We will take the lead and lead the charge in order to get everyone more collaborating and communicating so we can collectively move sports in Belize forward.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.