Oct. 15, 2012
Round Table Discussion Video Clips:
Coaches Discuss Their Project Topics
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Nittany Lion track and field program hosted a group of coaches from the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP) last week. Throughout the week, the coaches were given the opportunity to be a part of the daily goings on in a major Division I track and field program, including campus and facility tours, round table discussions, and observation of practice sessions with the Penn State track and field coaching staff and Nittany Lion athletes. The ICECP program is run domestically through the University of Delaware, in conjunction with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
As detailed on the ICECP website, the program is intended to "provide national level coaches and those responsible for the development of the sport national coaching structures in their countries with a practical program orientated towards developing proficiency in the areas of sport sciences, talent identification, athlete development, coaching education, coaching management, grass roots sport development and ethical aspects of coaching at all levels of competition and across multiple sports."
Spending the week with the Penn State program were Ms. Yu Fang Yuan (Malaysia), Mr. Sinisa Marcetic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Mr. Modou Njie (The Gambia), Mr. Kerlon Peters (Grenada), and Mr. Vancho Stojanov (Macedonia), who collectively had experience at all levels of track and field, from youth education, all the way to professional training within their own countries.
"We had another great week with our coaches from the ICECP program," said Director and Head Coach of Cross Country/Track and Field Beth Alford-Sullivan. "All five of them were extremely talented, invested and fun to work with. This program is an amazing for the growth of sport and coaches within sport, and I am proud we have been a part of it for the past five years. Matt Robbins, from the University of Delaware has done a great job directing this program and I look forward to seeing it continue throughout the years."
The week ended with a round table session with members of the Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics administrative team, including Acting Director of Athletics Dave Joyner, Assistant Athletic Director Jan Bortner, Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athletes Services Bruce Ellis, and Director of Compliance Andy Banse.
"It was our distinct pleasure to meet and speak with these international coaches who are part of the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program," said Bortner. "We were so impressed with the excitement and passion displayed by these coaches in asking questions and seeking to learn more about some of the things we do here at Penn State to achieve academic, athletic, and leadership excellence. Most importantly, this type of cultural exchange is so beneficial in developing friendships and relationships across the world. We are honored to be part of this program and extremely pleased that Head Coach, Beth Alford-Sullivan, and her entire staff have enthusiastically embraced this outstanding program."
The program, which is available to coaches in nearly 20 different sports, begins with two weeks of course work at the University of Delaware, before spending a week long "apprenticeship," where participants are given the opportunity to shadow a U.S. National Team coach or an equivalent high-level club or university coach. To successfully complete the program, participants must present a personal project - which has been approved by their National Olympic Committee (NOC) - at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. Personal projects are intended to benefit the respective sport or sport in general in each coaches' home country.
For more on the ICECP program, log on to www.udel.edu/ICECP/.