Coach Zia graduates top-of-class from ICECP course

World Archery certified coach trainer Mohammad Ziaul Hoque, from Bangladesh, graduated top of his class from the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program (ICECP) at the University of Delaware on 5 May 2017. The US-based initiative, which is funded by the International Olympic Committee, educates leaders in structures beneficial to the growth of sport.

“This course has opened a new window of knowledge, enriching my understanding of coaching and identified weaknesses, strengths and opportunities for the development of sport in Bangladesh,” said Mohammad.

Zia’s application to the course, which ran from September 2016 to April 2017, was submitted through his National Olympic Committee and Olympic Solidarity.

The intensive four-module programme consisted of lectures, projects, group work, field trips and presentations from guest speakers culminated in a final project, for which Zia had to deliver the outline for a project focused on developing archery coach education in Bangladesh.

“In the short term, the goals of the project are orientated to increase the number of active coaches in a local level, make archery available across provinces with new coaches, produce young archers by using a step-by-step training system and run events to attract young archers in the districts,” he explained.

“In the long term, expectations are to have archers compete at the Youth Olympic Games, to make archery a popular sport in Bangladesh and to increase the number of female archers and coaches.”

His final project impressed tutors so much that Zia was recognised as the best alumni of his class.

“During my study period I had the chance to visit the Easton Archery Center of Excellence in Chula Vista where I learnt about the ‘Junior Olympic Dream Team’ training system, which inspired me a lot. With this experience and my certification I will try to promote the possibilities in Bangladeshi archery development to our authorities.”

Zia became a World Archery certified level one coach trainer in 2013 and then a level two coach in 2016.

He has worked with national teams from Pakistan and Colombia and will conduct an Olympic Solidarity level one coaching course in the Solomon Islands on 16-24 June 2017.