Practicing and aspiring athletics coaches have gathered for the first instructors’ course of the year taking place at Eaglesvale College in Harare.

The course takes participants through the tenets of coaching track and field athletes and runs for two days between 9 and 10 March.

Silas Muringani, secretary-general of the Harare Athletics Board, informed sportszone.co.zw that the course is intended at any athletics coach who is either in the field already or would like to venture into the exciting career.

“We have invited school coaches and teachers in charge of athletics but we are open to all interested participants including club and community coaches. Certificates and coaching manuals will be offered upon completion of the course,’’ said Muringani.

The course takes a place amid a period of heightened activity on the local athletics front. Both the senior and junior categories have seen a busy month since the cross country plus track and field seasons began. Seniors are competing in the J Mbusha national league which is running several provincial circuits before the national championships set for May.

Juniors are also engaged mainly in the Nash championships that have just passed zonal stage and are now headed for the inter-districts, again at Eaglesvale, on March before culminating into the inter-provincial championships next month.

Muringani said participants would be requested to pay $40 which would cover administrative costs as well as cater for their meals, certificates, manuals and other facilitation fees.

Thursday’s session runs in the afternoon between 2pm and 4.30pm while Friday’s session occupies the full day from 8am to 4pm.