PANAJI: Stressing that scientific training is the future of athlete development, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday called on coaches and physical education teachers to embrace sports science, nutrition, physiotherapy and sports medicine to nurture the next generation of athletes in Goa.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony 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," Sawant said.
He said the workshop goes beyond classroom lectures by focusing on demonstrations, practical sessions, group activities and case studies, equipping participants with the skills needed 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.
The Chief Minister also urged participants to lead by example, stressing that physical education teachers and coaches must maintain their own fitness before encouraging students to do the same.
"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.
Sawant said the role of coaches has evolved beyond teaching a single sport, and they must now possess cross-disciplinary knowledge to prepare athletes for higher levels of competition.
"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 added.
Linking sports with the fight against substance abuse, the Chief Minister said greater participation in sports can play a crucial role in achieving the vision of a drug-free youth.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a "Nasha Mukt Yuva", Sawant 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 the State now has indoor and outdoor stadiums across all talukas following investments made for the Lusofonia Games and the National Games.
He encouraged participants to suggest innovative ways to utilise these facilities to 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 the application of sports science to athlete development.
