Pratt calls for assistance toward 'national coaching' initiative

Wed, Mar 5th 2014, 11:52 AM

Sports has long been considered one of the major contributors to social change. National leaders, sports advocates and social reformation initiatives all emphasize the need for the implementation of comprehensive sports programs in our schools, communities and at all levels in the sporting federations.
The Bahamas has earned its place among the best in the world of professional track and field, experiencing unbelievable success, despite having few resources. One has to take a close look at the almost 200 coaches in New Providence and the Family Islands, who for nothing but the love of sports and the nation's youth, dedicate their lives to building a better Bahamas.
The Bahamas' first CARIFTA medalist, whose sports career spans about three decades, believes that, "if you know, teach, and if you don't know, learn".
Peter Pratt has single-handedly taken on the task of fulfilling a life-long dream of 'Inter-Island Talent Search and Development of Coaches' throughout the islands of The Bahamas.
This initiative ensures that Family Island athletes and coaches need not travel to New Providence, thus depleting the islands of its most precious resources - its people; but they can be taught by persons like Pratt and remain at home to develop future generations of athletes and coaches.
Pratt has developed both regional and international champions such as Olympian Leevan Sands, Bianca Stuart, collegiate rising stars Latario and Lathone Collie-Minns, Tamara Myers, Trae Carey and Raymond Higgs just to name a few. His insatiable desire as a pioneer in the national development of horizontal jumps programs, directs his belief that the investment in social intervention programs in our schools and club systems could curtail many of the socially misguided youth who need positive reinforcements during the impressionable years.
The much respected administrator at Government High School (GHS) in New Providence currently coaches the club Jumpers Inc., which consists of about 16 dedicated horizontal jumpers whose goal of student-athleticism guides their activities in the classroom and on the field.
As an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) level five track and field coach, Pratt believes in the education of his athletes beyond high school, thereby assisting qualified athletes with the opportunity for tertiary education. He has built a network with coaches in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.
So what would this national leader in sports development for social change like to see occur to achieve the goals of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Coaches? The answer is simply: any assistance toward its 'Inter-Island Talent Search and Development of Coaches' Initiative.

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