Eastern Police Officers Learn More On Sports Admin, Coaching
(The writer is the Fiji National Sports Commission’s Sports Development Manager-Fiji)
This week we come down to the Central Urban Division, the newest operational division of the Sports Commission established to look entirely at the big population of young people within the Lami – Nausori Corridor.
A number of training programs have been conducted in these areas focusing mainly on the establishment of multi-sports clubs or associations in urban areas. A review of these programs conducted in urban communities saw the need to upgrade Police Officers’ sports coaching and administration skills so the commission can work with Community Police better in reaching out to young people n the community through sports.
The partnership between the Fiji National Sports Commission and the Community Police through a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year has been the motivation towards facilitating these trainings.
SPORTS ADMINISTRATION
AND COACHING COURSES
The Fiji Community Police Initiative is commended for the insight to fund this first ever training for its officers in the areas of sports administration and coaching.
The OSEP Sports Administration and Coaching Courses, are community accreditation programs aimed at equipping participants with the basic skills of starting and sustaining a sports club in the community.
The training targeted Police Officers in the Eastern Zone at the Nausori Police Conference Room from the 22-24 August, 2018. The sports commission facilitated the Sports in Community (SIC) and Community Coaching and Officiating) (CC&O) Courses for 25 Police Officers from the Eastern Division.
The following Police Posts and Police Stations were represented at the course; Nayavu Police Post, Wainibuka Police Post, , Dawasamu Police Post, Tailevu, Korovou Police Station, Tailevu, Levuka Police Station, Waidalice Police Post, Raralevu Police Post, Wainibokasi Police Post, Naqali Police Post, Naqali Police Post, Sawani Police Post, Nakasi Police Station, Nausori Police Station, Headquarters, Nabua.
MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING
The Fiji Community Police Initiative and the Fiji National Sports Commission have an MOU in place that promotes the enhancement of inter-agency cooperation with other stakeholders both internal and external.
The general scope of the MOU is for both parties to be consistent with their respective policies aims and priorities and to cooperate in the facilitating the implementation of sports programs in Fiji.
Under the MOU the Fiji National Sports Commission will actively engage the Fiji Police Force as a partner for sport and youth development in Fiji.
BENEFITS TO THE POLICE FORCE
A total of 25 officers from the Eastern Region attended the three day course.
Officers from the following Police Posts attended the training; Nayavu, Wainibuka, Dawasamu, Tailevu, Korovou, Tailevu, Levuka Police Station, Waidalice Police Post, Raralevu Police Post, Wainibokasi Police Post, Naqali Police Post, Naqali Police Post, Sawani Police Post, Nakasi Police Station, Nausori Police Station, Headquarters, Nabua.
The courses saw participants accredited with the OSEP regionally recognised Sports In Community (SIC) and Community Coaching and Officiating Accreditations upon successfully completing workplace assessments.
These accreditations will help police appreciate the value of good sports coaches and administrators in the community. In the process of establishing sports associations and clubs, Fiji Community Police will have a good understanding of the demands of setting these up in the community.
In opening the course, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu emphasised the need for his officers to be knowledgeable about the mechanics of starting and sustaining a sports club in the community.
Having this knowledge is beneficial for the force as work on establishing sports clubs and associations to drive sports development in communities.
He plans to run similar training for West and Northern Divisions officers to get his officers acquainted with the program. The program runs in line with the Fiji Community Police’s operations of reaching out to the community.
MOVING FORWARD
All 25 police officers who attended the three day training were awarded with their SIC and CC&O certificates after successfully completing the course.
The commission looks forward to utilising knowledge and skills learnt from the course to set up more sports and youth club structures in the community.
Utilising the community police network is the best way the sports commission can reach out to the communities.
This has been proven successful in other areas of Fiji where community police has played a big role in the establishment ofports associations and clubs. These included, Lakeba, Kadavu, Buca Bay, Namosi and Waidina.
– Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
Feedback: jliga@fijisports.com.fj
