In conjunction with the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Wrestling offered a Silver Level Coaches College Course to member coaches and an invitation was also extended to John Tarkong Jr. of Palau. From Wednesday June 6th through Sunday June 10th, coaches from across the country learned the latest innovations for coaching the sport of wrestling.
Aside from classroom sessions, on the mat instruction from U.S. World Team and National Team coaches were held with specials sessions that focused on mental skills, nutrition, tournament operations, and technique training. International renowned coaches such as Kevin Jackson, Steve Fraser, Ike Anderson, Terry Brands, Ivan Ivanov were among some of the top coaches to conduct wrestling sessions on the mat. Many techniques wre shown that included set ups, offense / defensive moves and finishes from the mat. The course involved exciting and extensive sessions that lasted from 8:30am till 8:30pm and provided about 33 coaches an opportunity to gain extensive information and knowledge on coaching the latest techniques and training to help us as coaches and our athletes.
Tarkong would like to thank PNOC and ONOC for providing him with the Olympic Scholarship to take part in this high level coaching course. The experience and knowledge gained from taking part in the course allowed him to network with other coaches from USA Wrestlng and an opporutnity take what he has learned and help plan for the development of other coachs in the region among our member federations, other coaches in Palau and our athletes in the pacific region. Most of all, this experience also allowed me to observe the 2007 World Trials for the USA athletes attempting to represent their country in the upcoming 2007 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan in September 2007.
Once again, thank you to Tony Black, Manager of Grassroots Development for USA Wrestling for allowing me to attend the course. It was really exciting to meet other coaches and share what was taught. Most of all, I learned that as a coach, wrestling must be fun for all. It was well worth it and a course truly for coaches.
John Tarkong Jr.
Last Modified on 11/06/2007 17:15