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SPORTCHECK THE LEONARD A DE VRIES PERSPECTIVE: Local coaches are the best option

FORMER National Coaching Board (NCB) chairman Prof Datuk Dr Leonard A. de Vries is a firm believer in local coaches.

In fact, the NCB was set up to train locals to excel in coaching as locals would find it easier to understand Malaysian athletes.

The idea to form the board and a national coaches programme was mooted at a seminar organised by the National Sports Council in 1985.

The board was formed shortly after and two years later, the National Coaches Certificate Scheme was introduced.

de Vries said the NCB believes that coaching Malaysia's international athletes and teams requires coaches with leadership qualities and in-depth understanding and application of sports science, in particular the physical, mental, technical and tactical components related to sports specific performances.
"To date, more than 5,500 Level One, 1,674 Level Two and 200 Level Three coaches have been certified.

"Since its inception, Level Three has a sports science subject as it is the highest level of certification for Malaysian coaches.

"Level Three is thorough and those who obtain the certification should be the ones handling athletes and teams at the international level," said de Vries, who is also the Malaysian Association for Physical Education, Sports Science and Fitness president.

Among coaches who have obtained Level Three certification are Johannis Amrin (artistic gymnastic), Wallace Tan and Stephen Van Huizen (hockey), Teh Lah Hoong, Kok Mong Lin and Loo Joo Sin (rhythmic gymnastics), Moira Tan Siew See (netball), Muhammad Shafiq Abdullah (sepaktakraw) and Mohd Hazan Daham (lawn bowls).

"Where are these coaches and what are they doing? These are the ones that came through the system and the NSC should have the data of these coaches with it.

"If we are really keen on improving sports culture, then we should capitalise on our own coaches instead of hunting for foreign coaches.

"We already have a system in our own backyard... it is just a question of implementing it.

"Take the bad and make it better, take the good and develop it further," he said.

NST

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