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Climbing High, Barbados Sky, Typically Tropical Welcome for Belarus Coach

By: Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Aleksey Yefremov who conducted the ITTF Level Two Course in Barbados Photo By: Courtesy of Aleksey Yefremov

07/11/2012

Situated on the shores of the blue waters of the Caribbean, Bridgetown, the capital and the largest city in Barbados, was the recent home for an ITTF Level Two Course.

Organised under the direction of the ITTF Development Programme and in conjunction with the Latin American Table Tennis Union, the course was staged from Monday 2nd to Saturday 7th July 2012.

Aleksey Yefremov of Belarus was the Course Conductor.

It was the first ever ITTF Level Two Course to be held in Barbados but the island is no stranger to courses promoted by the International Table Tennis Federation.

Previous Visitors
In 2009 Argentina’s Alejandra Gabaglio visited to conduct and ITTF/PTT Level One Course, followed in the same year by Costa Rica’s Fernando Aguilar who led a Basic Umpires and Referees Course.

More recently, in 2011 Egypt’s Mohamed Gharib spent four months in the island with the mandate of Developing a National Sport Structure; the task for Aleksey Yefremov was to build on that base.

Attendance
A total of 16 students attended, four being female, including Marguerite Felix, the General Secretary of the Barbados Table Tennis Association; in fact she proved to be one of the most active of a group of enthusiastic course members.

Understandably, the majority of participants came from Barbados but there were three members from foreign shores. Reeza Burke, the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association attended alongside Edwin Humphreys coach and player.

Long Distance
Trinidad and Tobago is not too distant from Barbados but for the thirds visitor from foreign parts, the journey was much longer. David Mahabir from Canada completed the group.

Everything Provided
“The venue was the Barbados Table Tennis Association Centre”, explained Aleksey Yefremov. “Seven Stag tables, a large amount of three star Joola balls were available plus all the prerequisites such as projector, screen, manuals, white board, water, coffee and the necessary transportation.”

Reactions tested, anticipation is a vital indredient for the table tennis player
Photo courtesy of Aleksey Yefremov

Exacting Schedule
Everything in place and in order the complete the necessary itinerary, a quite exacting schedule needed to be organized.

“We had a tight schedule of around of seven hours in the hall, with one break for 30 minutes, but all participants all gained very good results”, continued Aleksey Yefremov. “It was rewarding to see young Barbadian coaches together with experienced coaches, the eldest was 69 year old David Harris, the most experienced of the coaches and a former school teacher.”

Experience and youth combined for a programme that possessed a detailed itinerary.

Important Topics
“All of the important topics for an ITTF Level Two Course were covered: technical preparation, sport education, physical preparation and mental awareness”, added Aleksey Yefremov. “Group work in theory sessions aligned with practical work, multi-ball practice, physical preparation, stretching, aerobic and anaerobic training was included in the six days course.”

A very full programme with reference being made consistently to the Advanced Coaching Manual, written by Phillip Molodzoff of France; all combined to produce a most successful course which concluded in the most positive manner possible.

A back push to return the ball from an eager student anxious to improve
Photo courtesy of Aleksey Yefremov

Outstanding Results
“I was surprised, to be honest, with the results of ITTF Level Two exam results; all 16 students passed both the practical and theory parts”, enthused the Belarus born coach. “From one point of view that was a surprise but from another aspect it was perhaps to be expected; Latin American coaches have improved a great deal since 2008 when the first ITTF Level Two Course was held in the continent in Costa Rica.”

Assess Progress
Furthermore, Aleksey Yefremov is a coach who is well qualified to assess Latin American Progress.

He was the National Coach for the Central American country of Guatemala for several years and he has conducted ITTF Level Two Courses in El Salvador, Peru and Cuba.

It was a delighted Aleksey Yefremov and a most grateful Aleksey Yefremov who departed Caribbean shores after the whole programme had concluded.

Aleksey Yefremov (left) demonstrates with the help of a group member
Photo courtesy of Aleksey Yefremov

National Association Responded
“I really appreciated incredible efforts of Marguerita Felix, the General Secretary of Barbados Table Tennis Association, she was responsible for all”, said Aleksey Yefremov. “Also I must thank the President of Barbados Table Tennis Association, Trevor Brown, who attended several of the sessions; motivated all the participants whom I must also thank for their enthusiastic response.”

Grateful for the efforts made as was Marguerita Felix.

Continue Work
“We are very appreciated for all help from the International Table Tennis Federation and of course we would like to continue with the education of our coaches”, she said. “We all very happy with the ITTF Level Two course and this will motivate our coaches in Barbados to work hard and improve.”

Six days in the Caribbean, beautiful beaches, clear blue waters, sipping Tequila Sunrise as the sun beats down; for Aleksey Yefremov the Training Hall was his lot. He could only dream; a tough life being a course conductor for the International Table Tennis Federation.

Stag table tennis tables and Joola balls were used throughout the six day course
Photo courtesy of Aleksey Yefremov