$13m plan for Orange Grove Savannah
By Garfield London (Trinidad Express)
President of the Eddie Hart League for Football Foundation, Eddie Hart, made two major announcements, in delivering his report at the league's recent 41st presentation of awards and prizegiving ceremony in Tacarigua.
According to Hart, proposals are in place for a permanent change of name from the Orange Grove Savannah to the Eddie Hart Sporting Recreational Community Facility, and most importantly a $13 million plan for upgrading the facility at the Tacarigua venue.
He also mentioned that this year the league will require each club to submit a profile of their coaches who are involved with their under-13, under-15 and under-17 teams.
Hart, who is also a Minister in the Culture Ministry, says some of the highlights of the proposals for the development of the institution are:
(1) A formal name change from the Orange Grove Savannah to the Eddie Hart Sporting Recreational Community Facility. There will be a strategic plan to preserve the open spaces and greenery of the surroundings without the use of fences and walls. This is to facilitate the development from foundation, including play to practise performance and excellence.
(2) The construction of an integrated clubhouse and pavilion in the main field and construction of change room facilities in the small eastern field.
This will be a modern facility which is expected to cost approximately $13 million. Some key features of this facility will include a main pavilion, clubhouse, an aerobic centre, a gym and an auditorium.
The Sport Ministry should provide an annual or quarterly grant which will assist in the management of the facilities, he says.
A manager, an operational assistant, cleaning staff, clerical staff and security wardens are among the positions to provide the day-to-day management of the facility.
Among the sporting fields to be enhanced and developed are football fields for seniors, juniors; 400m grass track; turf cricket pitch for seniors, turf cricket pitch for juniors; a training field for rugby and a 25-metre swimming pool and floodlights.
A special area will be designed as an outdoor entertainment area. It is proposed that a user's fee will be charged for the use of the integrated clubhouse and pavilion as well as the main field.
Hart also mentioned some changes to the coaching in the under aged groups. He said: "There are several issues which I consider to be critical to the development of the young players in the under-13 to the under-17 age-groups, such as quality coaching and development, quality training, quality parenting and the players' responsibilities.
(1) Quality coaching and development refers to the youth scientific methods for improving skill, technique and the performance of the young players that will contribute to their gradual development. This means that coaches of young people must be continuously exposed to the issues related to sports physiology, sociology and the philosophy of sports, as well as teaching and coaching methods with the emphasis on teaching.
"They must be fully aware of the teaching and coaching learning process. No one should be allowed to coach young players particular in the under aged brackets, unless that individual is properly prepared to handle the challenges that is related to the coaching of young people .
"This year the league will require each club to submit a profile of coaches that are involve in coaching the under-13, under-15 and under-17 teams.This will enable the league get a better idea of the competence of the coaches. A programme will be also developed for the competence of youth coaches.
"(2) Quality Training which refers to the new scientific sound method aimed at improving the physical fitness of young players.
"Last year's football World Cup and indeed this year's Cricket World Cup have demonstrated very clearly the critical role physical fitness plays at all levels .
"Coaches and trainers must be adequately trained so that they can prepare and institute clinical fitness programme, such as pre-season, in-season and off-season training.
"The league will also develop a programme to expose players to the modern scientific methods in developing physical fitness.
"(3) Proper parenting which refers to the support given to the children by their parents, who are involved in sports. In this regard I urged parents to take a special interest in the football programmes in which your children are exposed."
Hart urged parents to visit the training programmes, talk to the coaches and find out more about the competence, and lifestyles of the coaches.
He also reminded them that "coaches are not only coaching football. They are also playing a role in the social and physiological development of your child."
"Remember (referring to the youths in the audience) while you may have talent in sport, it is also very important to pay particular attention to your school work. Indeed, many young people today have shown that it is possible to achieve success at both sport and academic," the Member of Parliament for Tunapuna stressed.
