The Technical Officials Workshop refresher course for the northern primary school teachers and officials was held over 3 days (22nd, 23rd and 24th August) in Labasa with the addition of a Kids’ Athletics Workshop in the first two days. The Kids’ Athletics Workshop was made possible by Athletics Fiji in partnership with the Oceania Athletics Association and FPSAA and was facilitated by IAAF certified lecturer and Athletics Fiji Development Officer, Albert Miller Snr.
It was a very informative and practical week for the teachers that began with the Kids’ Athletics workshop where the aim was to empower teachers on how to introduce children to the basic level of Athletics as well as to become innovative with their surroundings when implements and facilities are hard to come by. The week then ended with the Technical Officials refresher workshop on Thursday and was facilitated by none other than IAAF certified lecturer and Athletics Fiji Vice President Vuli Waqa.
Similar topics that were covered at the western technical officials workshop was also covered in the northern one and included the general rules of track and field, management officials’ roles, event referees and their roles, events specific equipment and events specific rules. Another benefit from the workshop, apart from refreshing competition rules and regulations, is the uniform understanding and application of the rules and regulations surrounding the sport of Athletics around Fiji.
No doubt the mission of FPSAA was very evident throughout both workshops with the twenty plus teachers that attended and the endless repetitive philosophy of “providing a transparent pathway for the development of athletic skills of young athletes, coaches and officials in an enjoyable and friendly environment.”
Story by: Eugene Vollmer
Pictures by: Eliki Mae and Eugene Vollmer