Tennis coach trains Bzean teachers

It may not have the mainstream popularity of basketball, volleyball or softball but this week, tennis is taking over the court. With the help of an expert from the International Tennis Federation, the Belize Tennis Association is currently hosting a series of workshops designed to train Belizean coaches in the sport. This morning’s wet weather pushed them indoors but that didn’t stop the action on the court.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

Using simple games to teach hand eye coordination while having fun, this morning coach John Goude instructed students of St. Mary?s Primary school on the art of tennis.

According to coach Goude, the skills developed through tennis can help participants get through everyday life.

John Goude

?It teaches people sportsmanship when you?re on the court and you continue. It teaches people to work hard to reach something. It teaches people to communicate with older people, younger people with everybody; communication, two way street. It teaches them honesty. It teaches them to listen and meet some many other people in this world. It teaches them to be active and have a healthy lifestyle for the rest of their life.?

The workshops were made possible through the Belize Tennis Association, the Belize Olympic Committee and the International Tennis Federation. President of the BTA, Billy Musa Sr. says these seminars are crucial to the survival of the sport in Belize.

Edward ?Billy Musa, Sr., President, Belize Tennis Association

?What we find over the last few years is that a coach comes and does a thing for a week or two and then leaves and then nothing happens. So what we decided this time is that when the coach comes, he will be training coaches instead of kids so that when he leaves they can carry on with the work. I believe the interest is there. What we need are coaches, teachers, facilities, tennis courts and so on, which the International Tennis Federation is preparing to assist us with. So this is another beginning and we hope it works this time.?

Tomorrow the tennis classes moves on to Ebeneezer Methodist and Wesley primary schools. On Saturday all the participants of the workshops will take part in an all day marathon on the courts of the Belize Pickwick Club in Belize City.