The upcoming physiotherapy seminar for coaches has already attracted strong interest, with 45 participants registered so far for what is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at strengthening athlete welfare and performance standards in Guyana.
The one-day programme, scheduled for February 27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, is being organised by the National Sports Commission (NSC) in collaboration with the Physiotherapy Department of the Ministry of Health.
The initiative is designed to bridge the gap between clinical sports medicine and everyday coaching practice, ensuring coaches are better equipped to manage athlete health and injury prevention.
Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle described the programme as an important step in modernising sport development locally and revealed that the NSC is calling on all National Associations and Federations to take advantage of the opportunity by registering their coaches and technical staff.
“With 45 persons already registered, we are encouraged by the response so far, but we are still hopeful that the sports associations and others interested can come on board and register,” Ninvalle said.
He added, “This programme is important because coaches are often the first responders when injuries occur, and they must be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to make informed decisions.”
The seminar will feature a panel of experienced local physiotherapists and sports medicine practitioners, including Vanessa Wickham, Jana Edghill, Angelica Holder, Neil Barry and Kelly Coonjah.
Each presenter will focus on critical areas ranging from injury prevention to safe return-to-play protocols, providing both theoretical knowledge and practical applications.
According to organisers, the seminar will cover a wide cross-section of topics, including injury prevention and load management, mechanisms of injury linked to coaching decisions, acute injury management, concussion recognition, heat illness prevention in tropical environments, hydration strategies, structured warm-up and cool-down protocols, and strength and conditioning for injury resilience.
Additional sessions will examine youth athlete considerations, injury tracking systems, and criteria-based return-to-play frameworks.
Wickham is expected to set the foundation by addressing sports medicine team dynamics, injury patterns, and International Olympic Committee injury prevention protocols, while Edghill will focus on acute injury response, concussion management, and heat-related illnesses, a particularly relevant topic given Guyana’s climate.
Holder will emphasise proper warm-up and recovery strategies, Barry will present strength and conditioning principles for performance and injury prevention, and Coonjah will conclude with guidance on safe return-to-play systems and youth athlete development.
Ninvalle further stressed that the partnership between the NSC and the Ministry of Health represents a significant shift towards a more integrated national sports system, where medical expertise becomes embedded within training environments rather than treated as an afterthought.
“Its our vision for Guyanese athletes to perform at their highest level, but never at the expense of their health. When we invest in education for coaches, we are investing in the protection of athletes across every discipline, from grassroots to elite levels,” Ninvalle explained.
The NSC believes the seminar will play a key role in reducing injury incidence, preventing reinjury, and improving long-term athlete performance sustainability nationwide, while reinforcing a broader national commitment to athlete-centred sport development.
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