In October, the BWF celebrated another “virtual graduation” activity, this time for the recently named Level 3 coaches in the Pan Am region. This represents the last of the pioneer groups on the groundbreaking Coach Education Level 3 course, in which course candidates explore high-level topics in coaching, in addition to completing a long-term course project.
The Level 3 course encourages coaches to examine both their coaching practice and their roles within their national systems. Through course work and subsequent projects, they explore different ways of working with their players, particularly at the elite level, as well as how they form part of the overall player pathway in their countries. This allows them to have a deeper impact with players, but also a broader impact on their national systems.
The Pan Am pilot course, held in Peru in 2019, was the final course in the multi-region trial. The first of the pilot courses was held in Asia (Malaysia) and the second in Europe (Denmark), both in 2018. The nine Pan Am graduates represented Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru, and Suriname.
During the closing activity, the new Level 3 coaches shared how they have applied the course concepts to their practice, from their on-court work with players to the development of sustainable systems in their countries. There is no doubt that they are well prepared to advance the growth of badminton in the region and beyond.
