Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Aug 3: Emphasising that scientific training is the future of athlete development, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday urged coaches and physical education teachers to adopt sports science, nutrition, physiotherapy and sports medicine to nurture the next generation of athletes.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the three-day Capacity Building Workshop on Applied Sports Science, themed Bridging Science and Sports, at the Peddem Indoor Stadium, Sawant said the initiative aims to create a pool of "master trainers" who will take scientific sports training to schools and talukas across the state.
"For the first time, sports and science are coming together. Nutrition is a must. Capacity building is a must. Routine practice is a must. Physiotherapy is a must. Sports medicine is a must. Preliminary studies of all these are essential for us as sports teachers," he said.
The chief minister said the workshop would focus not only on classroom sessions but also on demonstrations, practical training, group activities and case studies to equip participants with the skills required to train other coaches and physical education teachers in their respective regions.
"We will train master trainers. Tomorrow, if a workshop has to be conducted in Canacona or Ponda, you should be able to train other teachers. This initiative should reach every taluka," he said.
Sawant stressed that coaches and physical education teachers must lead by example by maintaining their own physical fitness.
"If you do not maintain your own physical fitness, you cannot preach physical fitness to others. Exercise should be compulsory for every coach and physical education teacher for at least 45 minutes every day," he said.
He added that the role of sports coaches has evolved significantly and now requires knowledge beyond a single discipline.
"Gone are the days when a teacher only took a PT class. Today, you need knowledge in every field. It is not enough to specialise in just one sport. You have to become all-rounders to guide children effectively," he said.
Linking sports with the fight against substance abuse, Sawant said greater participation in sports could play a key role in achieving the goal of a drug-free society.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a "Nasha Mukt Yuva", he urged coaches and teachers to organise sports activities at schools and village levels over the next 100 weeks.
"The more you involve children in sports, the more they will stay away from addiction. They will focus on their fitness, careers and future. A drug-free youth will lead to a Viksit Goa and a Viksit Bharat," he said.
Highlighting Goa's sports infrastructure, Sawant said indoor and outdoor stadiums had been developed across all talukas following investments made for the Lusofonia Games and the National Games.
He encouraged participants to come up with innovative ideas to maximise the use of these facilities and increase youth participation in sports.
"The infrastructure is ready. Now we need innovative ideas for using it effectively and for involving more children in sports. I expect meaningful suggestions from this workshop," he said.
The three-day workshop has brought together sports experts from across the country to train coaches and physical education teachers in applying sports science and modern training methods to athlete development.