A Report from Anura de Silva, who directs this type of work at Seenigama, dated 6 June 2011
Photo collage of the 1st Sports Coaching Camp held at Mankulam Maha Vidyalaya Grounds in Mankulam from 02-05 June’ 2011.
As decided cricket, volleyball and netball were the sports that were selected for this initial training camp and the Foundation Coaches – Anjula Mendis/ assisted by Rod McCabe (cricket), Jayan Manoj (volleyball) and Nadeeka Dilrukshi (netball) conducted the sessions.
35 boys attended the cricket, 30 (15 girls/15 boys) the volleyball and 20 (girls) the netball clinics respectively. All the students were from Mankulam Maha Vidyalaya and the age group was 10-18 years.
Training was conducted on the following lines.
a). Netball : 1. Running drills and continue runs
2. Moving practice
3. Ball handling
4. Developing skills
5. Shooting and three feet practice
6. Games
7. Warm up, warm down and stretching
Continuation of Practices: On all week days from 3.30-5.30pm
b). Volleyball : 1. Warm up, warm down and stretching
2. Exercises
3. Services, dipping, rotations, volley pass, spike step, jump step and
receiving
Continuation of Practices: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 330-530 pm.
c). Cricket : 1. Basic warm up / warm down and stretching
2. Exercises
3. Identification of equipment and usage
4. Basic introduction
5. Pitch preparation(matting) and measurements
6. Fielding drills
7. Basic batting and bowling drills
Continuation of Training : Batting drills, spot bowling, fielding drills
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2.30-5.30 pm.
Observations
1. All students especially the boys were indisciplined and needed constant checks and
reminders.
2. there was a lack of teamwork
3. Language barrier (almost 99% can only speak and understand Tamil)
4. The cricket pitch has not been attended to (clay + rolling) and the cutting of grass not completed. The matter was brought to the notice of the school and they promised to get the job done during the coming week.
Suggestions
1. Cricket needs a good coach from the area to continue our work. The ones assigned
for volleyball and netball are adequate.
2. Provide some type of nutrition support after training (chic-pea which would compensate for their dinner as well) because the school authorities inform us that most students only eat one meal a day – the mid day meal given by the World Food Programme).
3. Training bottoms, shirts and shoes to be provided for all students as most students
wore their school trouser and shoes during training. Some even tore them during drills.
It is due to the kindness of many that we the Foundation of Goodness was able to start this project and we firmly believe that through sport we could make better lives for these poor kids effected by decades of war.
Many Blessings and Kindest Regards,
Anura.