The inaugural Governor Douye Diri Netball Seminar took place in Otuoke, marking a significant milestone for the sport in the region. The seminar, named after the state’s esteemed governor, aimed to promote netball development, provide training, and foster growth.
The training event which was packaged by CSED ((Community Sports and Educational Development) Initiative was held at sports gym of the Federal University Otuoke, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
26 new netball coaches were taught the theoretical and practical aspects of netball, which from inception is the only organised sport that is designed for girls and women.
However, in the past few years, the game is now attracting boys and male players in an attempt by world netball to make the game inclusive for all gender.
The Government of Bayelsa State decided to sponsor this netball training event in order to build the capacity of P.E. teachers and ensure that the game of netball which is one of the the fastest growing grassroots sports in the state continue to offer the girl-child the opportunities to develop their sporting and academic abilities.
It would be recalled that last year, 21 female secondary school students in Bayelsa state completed the “Sporting Coders” programme, which involved playing netball and learning how to code.
The Otuoke training event was led by Edema Fuludu and Onome Edema who are Netball Africa certified coaches. They were assisted by coaches Catherine Sasuode, Ruth Opuene and Opusam Ekinisam Ete.
The safeguarding of students in sports was also covered as part of the seminar. Despite the rainfall that happened on the second training day, the coaches were keen to learn the practical aspect of the game.
As they were taught how to mark the netball court/playing area, warm up and warm down exercises, demonstration of the seven positions of the game and the responsibilities that are attached to each position.
To round up the practical training, a practice match involving the new netball coaches was held. At the end of the field practice, free netball starter packs (netball balls, rims/nets, finger-held whistles, and two sets of netball training bibs), as well as anti-drug abuse brochures were distributed to the new netball coaches.
Edema Fuludu urged the new coaches to go and teach the students in their respective schools what they have learnt and to make good use of the free netball starter packs. Edema Fuludu also told them that later in the year, an inspection team from the Bayelsa State Netball Association will visit all the beneficiary schools to monitor the progress of the coaches and netball playing students. Also, before the end of the current school year, competitions will be held to assess their performances.
The new coaches thanked the Bayelsa State Government, the Bayelsa State Netball Association and the Ministry of Education for giving them the opportunity to attend a training of this magnitude without charging the attendees any money.
Some of the new coaches described the game of netball as a sport that test the agility of netballers and it is interesting to play and to watch. The Coordinator of Bayelsa Netball Association, Catherine Sasuode, commended the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri for the financial support to the association that facilitated the organising of the seminar.
Catherine Sasuode also prayed that more financial support and opportunities should be provided to build the capacity of P.E. teachers and coaches at the grassroots level. She added that the association look forward to receiving more support from the Bayelsa State Government in the near future, with a view of supporting the growth and development of the game of netball in Bayelsa State.
