9 November 2009 - FITA World Coaching Seminar concludes in Rome

The FITA World Coaching Seminar concludes in Rome Rome (ITA) - 6 November 2009   Several excellent lectures were given to the participants during the last day of the 2009 World Archery Coaching Seminar in Rome. A large variety of subjects such as technical coaching, youth development,  field archery and equipment were presented.   The first lecture of the day was made by Roberto FINARDI (physical trainer) who explained the concept on which he works with the Italian archery elite. This concept tries to avoid providing a stereotyped answer (shot); rather, it tries to provide an appropriate and efficient answer to a given situation, considering that the situations of the shots always vary a little bit.   Italy has been a strong nation in Field archery from the birth of this discipline, particularly in the Barebow division, announced Giorgio BOTTO (FITARCO Field Archery Coach). He then presented the current development of Field archery, 3D archery and Barebow in Italy. The number of Italian Barebow archers has grown since the introduction of a National Indoor Championship for this division in the early 2000's), reaching an even higher score that compound! Mr BOTTO went on with a technical analyze of this division for which he considers that the basic skills are the same as for the recurve division, except for a more dynamic physical follow-through (release). Finally, he concluded on the specific equipment tuning: a zero tiller and the nocking point adjustment towards 22-25 meters.   Stefano CARRER (FITARCO Youth Development Technical Director) was the third lecturer of the day. He captivated the participants by providing many numbers like youth memberships, coaches, results from the youth Italian elite. He reported achievements such as increasing the number of tournaments or arrows (at least 24'000) shot by young Italian archers every year. He explained how he would like to better structure the young Italian elite, and see them use a more uniform shooting technique. The participants will certainly travel home with some “ideas” in their mind....   Two representatives from Bernardini Archery presented their products and the great results achieved with them by many archers, among whom Michele FRANGILI and Clint FREEMAN, just to name a few. Kumar Sharma GAJENDRA, a coach from India who came as a participant, presented the bow and arrows he produces, which are made mainly of bamboo. These items are used in the most popular Indian division. By promoting this division over about twenty years, India was able to build a large and solid base to its archery pyramid that now reaches the top 4-6 nations in the world. GAJENDRA's bow has an aesthetic riser and solid riser-limbs joints. The participants were voiceless when they were informed that the National record at 30 meters in the Indian bamboo equipment division is 346 points! FITA is striving to develop this division in West Africa as well.   Then the FITA Secretary General Tom DIELEN informed the participants of the challenges and progresses of archery on the Web, the Olympic Games, TV and on the overall sports scene. He presented the rules changes adopted during the last FITA Congress. Mr DIELEN then invited Don BEAL, an Australian coach who attended all four FITA Coaches Seminars held so far, to express his feelings about these seminars. Mr BEAL reported how much he appreciated the organization and the information provided during these seminars and confirmed that many coaches are working the proper way. Meriam EL MAHARI, a Moroccan coach who was attending her first World Archery coaching seminar, expressed that she felt fortunate to attend such a seminar from which she learned a lot. She highlighted that Africa needed a lot of support. Ms EL MAHARI wants to attend the next seminars.   At the closing ceremony, the FITA President Mr ERDENER along with the EMAU and FITARCO President Mario SCARZELLA congratulated the participants for their excellent work during this seminar. The FITARCO, its President Mario SCARZELLA, Nino ODDO and the FITA Development staff were warmly congratulated for the excellent organization, coordination and programme of this 2009 World Archery Coaching Seminar.   FITA Department of Development