SPORT IKONS
THREE Women made us proud at the Rio Olympics : P. V. Sindhu (Badminton), Sakshi Malik (Wrestling) and Dipa Karmakar (Gymnastics).
We won the only silver and bronze medal at the Games and a very close 4th position in Badminton, Wrestling and Gymnastics respectively. The three women were guided by three veteran coaches who helped them achieve glory for themselves and for the country. Pulella Gopichand, Kuldeep Singh & Bishwehwar Nandi.
V. Sindhu at 21, from Andhra Pradesh is one of the youngest badminton players. Sindhu has featured in top 10 in the world badminton rankings.She drew inspiration from her coach Pullela Gopichand’s victory in All England Open Badminton Championship . She received Padma Shri in 2015, which is the fourth highest civilian award of India.After the Rio Games was awarded the Khel Ratna Award along with Sakshi and Dipa. When she returned from Rio besides a gleaming BMW car she received over Rs. 13 crores by way of gifts and awards.The other too also received big monies.
The best endorsement of Sindhu has been Gopichand’s words : “The most striking feature in Sindhu’s game is her attitude and the never-say-die spirit.”
Sakshi Malik was the first Indian woman to win a wrestling Medal and Dipa the first Indian woman to qualify for the gymnast category. Sakshi father is a Bus Conductor.
Sindhu’ practice schedule starts at 4.30 am. Her mobile phone was taken away from her 3 months before the games (no distractions)
What is the Job all about?
Running, shooting, badminton,wrestling, gymnastics, Coaching, Fitness Training are all part of Sport & Physical Education.
Fitness is the 7th largest growing industry in the world. Today, it is also to do with lifestyle management. There is a crying need for professionals who can cope with diverse issues related to fitness; including mental and physical stress.
There are some Team coaches (Football, Hockey, Cricket, etc.) or Individual coaches (Tennis/Golf/Shooting, Athletics, Boxing, Chess, etc). There are some who become Fitness Trainers – this has become very popular nowadays, especially among Film stars, the rich and famous and also Senior Executives of Companies. They have ‘Personal Trainers’ who monitor their Blood Pressure, Sugar levels, to help them reduce weight and stress levels. They recommend a regime of exercises and diet so they always retain a good figure.There are still others, who organize mega sporting events from Test Matches to National/International events either in Athletics or Football, CWG, etc.
In Goa, football, cricket, are very popular. Sesa Goa, trains young talented footballers for free, in their Special Camp and Hostel area in Sanquelim, for a period of 4 years. These players are then picked up by the Big Clubs.
Can you go for it?
A variety of talents are required in Sport / Personal Fitness / Teaching Physical Education in Schools. That effectively means, there is tremendous scope for this Career.
There are many who start “Keep Fit Centers” like Norbert’s Fitness Academy, Neomis’ in Miramar and Basilio’s at St. Inez, Panaji. You can open your own Physical Training Centre. For this, you need business acumen. So, besides training to be a coach, you could be advised to do an Entrepreneur Course – to understand how business works. (Fr Agnel’s at Verna).
If you wish to be a Personal Trainer, you will also need to do a Program in Nutrition and Dietetics. You will need to be methodical, punctual and polite but firm; especially when you are dealing with big wigs.
If you wish to be a Coach, you have to be disciplined and a strong Motivator.
Types of Careers:
Sports person (either Team event or Individual) – Football, Hockey Cricket or Athletics, Tennis, etc.
Coach of an Individual or a Team
Referee
Fitness Trainer / GYM / Aerobics Instructor
Yoga Instructor
Sports Administrator
Fitness Consultant / Personal Trainer
Sales and Operations Manager
Dietician
Executive in Fitness Clinics & Clubs
Freelancer
Is there a future in this field?
Sport is slowly gaining ground in India and, therefore, prospects for various sporting activity are very good. Athletes, Fitness Trainers, Gym Trainers, Referees and Sports Coaches have good opportunities.
Where to Begin
in Goa
• Don Bosco College, Panjim: Two year Post Graduate Program B.P.Ed. (Bachelor in Physical Education), after normal Graduation in any field i.e. Arts, Science or
• SESA Football Academy – Sanquelim: Free Football training for 4 years together with studies. Age group: 14-15 years of age.
• Fitness Trainer Programs in Chowgule College and Norberts Fitness Centers.
• If you wish to be a Referee you will need to pass the Test conducted by the AIFF ( All India Football Federation ) . You are first appointed as an Assistant Referee (Lines man) then you need to pass another Test. If you can wish to become an International Referee, you will have to pass the Test conducted by FIFA. Similar rules apply if you wish to be a Cricket Umpire.
Outside Goa
Sports Authority of India (SAI), Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala. They have other Centers in the country too. The Institute has enormous facilities for academic programs & sports training. The sports training facilities are of international standard, comprising Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Indoor Halls, Cycling Velodrome, Squash Courts, Conditioning Units, Hockey Fields (Grass & Synthetic), Athletic Track (Cinder & Synthetic) & Out Door Courts.
The Institute is producing high caliber Coaches in sports disciplines, through its Diploma in Sports Coaching & Masters Course in Sports Coaching. The Institute conducts 6 courses pertaining to sports: Masters Degree in Sports Coaching, Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine, Diploma Courses in Sports Coaching, Refresher Courses and Certificate Course in Sports Coaching.
3 years Bachelor of Management Studies Sports
2 years Masters of Sports Management
1 year Diploma/PG Dipoma
AIFF Recognised conducted by Mumbai University
After Std. Xll and Post Graduation Courses
• Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Sciences (IGIPESS)
Symbiosis Dept. of Health Science, Pune, www.sihspune.com: Post Graduate Diploma in Fitness Management (1 Year program). SPECIALIZATIONS offered • Sports Conditioning • Performance Nutrition • Certified Fitness Trainer, and 6 months Diploma in Fitness Training. ELIGIBILITY: STD. XII pass.
Course Fees: Students Rs.25,000/- ( payable in two installments)
• Nike Aerobics Course/Reebok Instructor Certification program: Basic Course is 80 hours and around 30 hours of theory, Reebok Certified Instructor www.reebok.com
• Takwalkars in Mumbai: Judo, Karate, Kung Fu – belt program.
Employment avenues
All good Schools keep Sports Teachers. All Football Clubs need good Coaches / Referees. All Keep Fit Clubs need trained Fitness Mentors / Guides. All major sporting Institutions need good Sports Organizers.
Monies
Early stages, as always, are difficult, but with practice and hard work – soon you will be recognized. And then, it is not difficult to command good salaries or Consultancy Fees or Instructor Fees. Sports persons like Cricketers and Footballers now make sizeable income, plus get monies by way of endorsement of Products. But this comes with time, and lots and lots of hard work.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/