Govt to hire more coaches, preference for Olympic sports: Gaude

Panaji: The state government has given the go ahead to the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) to hire additional coaches and a decision is expected to be stamped at next week’s general body meeting.
Sports minister Govind Gaude is keen to bring in more coaches, but not like the senseless hiring in the past that has seen the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) among the most bloated departments.
“I am not responsible for what has happened in the past, how the hiring of coaches has been all about quantity and numbers,” Gaude told TOI on Friday. “We will now hire coaches who are qualified and who can strengthen the eco-system by providing quality training to sportspersons. Without top-notch coaches, we cannot make progress in any field.”
The SAG has already prepared a list of requirements for coaches in each discipline which has been sent to the sports minister for approval. It is not known whether he will agree to what the department has decided or seek clarifications on why the number is needed.
“We have to be choosy with our hiring and bring in coaches only where necessary. Our focus has to be Olympic disciplines. Some (non-Olympic) disciplines have so many coaches and little accountability. We have to change that,” said Gaude.
The sports minister said coaches will be appointed based on a fixed criterion with NIS Diploma course topping that list. NIS Certificate course will also get preference in an attempt to get professionally qualified personnel on board in SAG.
According to sources, some Olympic disciplines in Goa with permanent recognition for associations have just one coach or nobody at all.
Many believe that the SAG coach ratio for disciplines is skewed, heavily favouring sports like football (14), cricket (14) and body building (13). Some Olympic disciplines like archery, table tennis (both one each), badminton, swimming (two each) and hockey (3) are crying for more support.
Olympic disciplines like squash (demonstration sport for 2018 Summer Youth Olympics), yachting and fencing don’t have a coach employed with the SAG.