Welcome return, Jamaica Theological Seminary once again plays host
08 Nov 2016
Directed by Peter Kavanaugh, the national course conductor, just over one year ago the Jamaica Theological Seminary in Kingston was the host for a first ever ITTF/PTT Level One Coaches Course; a notable member was the institute’s president, Dr. Garnett Roper.
Now, thanks to the support afforded by Dr. Garnett Roper; the organization which was formed in 1960 and has several locations throughout the island, as well as in St Lucia as well as St Vincent and the Grenadines, was the host once again.
Jason McNamee, a fireman, has help from his young daughter (Photo: courtesy of Peter Kavanaugh)
by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
Organised under the auspices of the ITTF Development Programme and in conjunction with the Jamaica Table Tennis Association, a self-funded course was staged from Thursday 27th to Saturday 29th October and from Thursday 3rd to Saturday 5th November.
A total of eight students attended; three were part-time coaches with the remaining participants being members of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the SuperSonic Table Tennis Club and the Jamaica Theological Seminary.
“The five days of training was quite intense as there was a fully integrated approach taken to the teaching of techniques, theory and approaches to be used for both able bodied as well as disabled athletes”, Peter Kavanaugh
Studying hard on the ITTF/PTT Level One Course (Photo: courtesy of Peter Kavanaugh)
One of the major reasons for staging the course was to educate coaches how to teach young players; Peter Kavanaugh’s main aim is to produce as many ITTF Level One coaches in the island as possible, so as to increase participation in schools and amongst the community in general.
“What I have learned has given me a much clearer understanding of how to correct and properly teach the various techniques that each player should have as foundation for the game”, Howard Gale (Jamaica Fire Brigade).
Peter Kavanaugh teaching the basic skills to attentive young players (Photo: courtesy of Peter Kavanaugh)
Kishan Clarke, nine years old and his eight year old training partner Khrish Khemlani, both from the SuperSonic Table Tennis Club and members of Hydel School were welcome visitors, as was Nathaniel Edwards from the Excelsior Primary School. Notably his father, Trevor Edwards, was a member of the course.
“The physical preparation side was a bit hard for I don’t think I am as fit as I should be but overall I enjoyed the time here”, Ronice Scott (Jamaica Theological Seminary)
Watched by attentive coaches, Khrish Khemlani executes a forehand top spin stroke (Photo: courtesy of Peter Kavanaugh)
Thanks to the efforts ofPeter Kavanaugh, everyone benefitted from the experience.
“With over a thousand schools of various types spread throughout the island we have to try to raise the standard by making full use of the ITTF model and even more self-funded courses and partnerships like the one we have with the Jamaica Theological College”, Peter Kavanaugh
The successful coaches were Chester C. Wiles, Richard Murray and Kemar Gayle from the Supersonic Club, Howard Gayle, Jason McNamee and Trevor Edwards from the Jamaica Fire Brigade in addition to the Jamaica Theological Seminary’s Crescen Ebanks and Cavaughn Edwards.
Course members at the Jamaica Theological Seminary (Photo: courtesy of Peter Kavanaugh)
