AFLPNG runs coaching course for ENB schools

AFLPNG development continued its commitment to coaching development in East New Britain, with 13 men and seven women completing an ‘Orientation to AFL Coaching’ certificate hosted by Kokopo Primary School last Saturday.
There was a diverse group of participants — new players in the newly-established Kokopo senior competition, former players, and teachers and students from schools — who were interested in learning more about the sport after their school had part of the AFLPNG development ‘Niukick’ programme in the third term.
The course was conducted by AFLPNG development’s New Guinea Islands community education officer, Australian volunteer Ben Vile, pictured.
Participants focused on four key areas: rules and umpiring, AFL skills, the role of the coach, and coaching techniques.
The course is designed to be interactive with MicroSoft PowerPoint presentation, videos, group activities, practical AFL skills and umpire sessions, and question-and-answer sessions.
After completing the course, the new coaches will be able to grow AFL in their own community.
AFL East New Britain senior league president Lawrence Olpitarea, who took part in the course, shared his thoughts.
“This was a great course for beginner AFL coaches,” Olpitarea said.
“They learned the basic skills and rules of the sport and showed great interest.
“We look forward to continuing to grow AFL through the junior and senior programmes now running in the province.”
AFLPNG development will conduct two more coaching courses in Rabaul and the Duke of York Islands over the next two months as they take the sport to interested schools and communities in East New Britain.