Introduction of Multi-Tiered Coaching Centre

A key issue recently highlighted by ASEAN nations is the lack of high quality local

coaches present in the region. This results in an increased number of underdeveloped countries that lack the needed training and understanding of the sport.

The solution

To counter this problem, the council has introduced a new regional coaching programme

to improve the quality of talent development in ASEAN, with a focus on the grassroots levels to better prepare the elite athletes of the country by equipping them with advanced skills taught by qualified coaches.

Many delegates show similar opinions, all agreeing that a new, innovative approach is

the first step to further development of sports. “Having a grassroots programme is very important and crucial to scout more talents,” the delegate of Brunei said. This opinion is shared by multiple delegates, such as Australia, who stated, “We think that this programme should begin at a grassroots level.”

The multi-tiered programme targets coaches to be able to train athletes from grassroots

levels to elites. The council hopes that local coaches of ASEAN are able to learn new skills, not only physical skills but also knowledge from other health-related spectrums such as nutrition science, psychology, and such from other coaches from more developed countries with much more knowledge to share.

The coaching programme consists of multiple tiers.

The first tier aims to train athletes at a grassroots level. Countries such as Russia have

strong childhood development and scouting programmes. Thus, they are willing to lend their

expertise in the subject to help coach youths in ASEAN countries, hoping to discover unique

talents and nurture them from a young.

The second tier introduces coaches to developing athletes. Many talents are often

wasted due to the lack of recognition from coaches. Identifying these developing athletes and having a formal introduction to qualified coaches ensures these hidden talents are not

overlooked and can be used to help further sports development.

The third tier consists of training elite athletes with advanced tactical skills. To truly differentiate between the good and the great, such athletes need to skill up. Many would agree that competing on different levels would require different skill sets. For one to represent the country and compete on its behalf, the athletes would need to be of the same level as other athletes from other, better countries such as the United States, China, and Japan etc. For ASEAN countries to have a fair chance, it is crucial to push each country's best of the best and equip them with advanced skills.

The Benefits

“Ensuring quality coaching is a top priority”, the delegate of Brunei said. In order to be

able to enhance ASEAN’s sports development, nurturing coaching is necessary to pass

knowledge down to local coaches and produce higher quality athletes in ASEAN.

This centralised training Center allows coaches from different backgrounds to gather and

share expertise and manpower. This, in its entirety, is able to allow all ASEAN countries, and even foreign countries to be able to set a record for sports development.

Additionally, coaches are also able to share the skills or knowledge picked up during

their exchange experience to local coaches back in different ASEAN countries, exposing them to new strategies and mindsets to further their interest and allow future athletes to reach even further heights.

To improve the quality of local talent in ASEAN, extensive coaching programmes

are necessary. With a centralised training centre in Malaysia, coaches from all over ASEAN can improve as a whole, to allow an increase in the amount of educated coaches, this not only is a incredible feat for the world of sports development and Brunei and other ASEAN

countries is a right step towards regional cooperation in sports development to increase the quality of athletes in ASEAN.

Written by Tiana Wong, Jezelle Beh, and Rachel Teng Jin Ying