JNA starts online coaching course
THE Jamaica Netball Association (JNA) has implemented an online E-learning course to its coaching certification programmes.
The Internet component will be used to supplement the current coaching courses the JNA administers at Levels One, Intermediate and Advanced.
The online programme was developed by JNA Head of Coaching and Selection, Paula Daley-Morris.
“We usually spend a whole lot of time on the theory in a classroom environment, but now candidates have the option of either doing the real-time classroom course or the online course at their own pace,” she explained to the Observer.
“People learn at different paces so this helps,” Daley-Morris added.
The Advanced programme began last week while Level One and the Intermediate Level courses will begin in September.
Level One is being done in conjunction with the University of Technology (UTech), which also launches its Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Sciences in September.
Participants in the Advanced Coaching course will have the flexibility to complete each of the courses seven units at their own pace and be able to review their progress with a quiz at the end of each unit.
“This offers the opportunity to refresh yourself and go back at anytime and we have some checks and balances to ensure that they don’t cheat,” Daley-Morris said.
Under-21 Assistant Coach Marvette Anderson and Under-13 Assistant Coach Marvette Briscoe are among the eight persons currently participating in the Advanced Level coaching course.
Daley-Morris has developed a similar online coaching course for the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA) which will be completely administered via the Internet and be directed towards coaches anywhere in the Caribbean.
The AFNA course begins in July: “And this way we will also get help. We can have instructors from anywhere across the world,” she told the Observer.
Among the instructors will be former Australia netball captain and team coach Jill McIntosh.
McIntosh arrives in Jamaica on Thursday for a six-week stint with the JNA.
While in the island, McIntosh will conduct coaching clinics and also aid the Sunshine Girls in their recovery programme as they prepare for a hectic four-month period starting in August.
The senior netballers will play seven test matches against Australia and New Zealand in Oceania, as well as England in Jamaica, and the FASTNET World Series in Manchester, England and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.
