San Pedro High School’s Biology Teacher/Volleyball Coach, 22 year-old, Erick Santizo attended a four day International Course for Physical Education Teachers in Tortola, British Virgin Islands from Friday, October 4, 2013 to Wednesday, October 9, 2013.
The International Course for Physical Education Teachers was held under the auspices of The North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) Confederation through the Regional Development Center in Dominican Republic. There were 21 teachers who finished the course, hailing from Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Belize, Curazao, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & Grenadines and U.S. Virgin Islands.
The four-day course comprised of practical and theoretical sessions focusing on the way to initiate students into the practice of volleyball, teaching them basic technical and tactical fundamentals.
More than 120 kids of different age took part in the International Seminar for Physical Education Teachers held in Tortola as NORCECA Confederation continues with its development program throughout all the regions under its zone of influence.
The course had a double purpose, one to give the teachers the necessary tools and also to motivate the kids to start playing volleyball at a tender age. The children participated in a number of recreational activities connected to volleyball while the teachers received more information about the way to instruct the students in the proper way. The main objective of the seminar is to enhance the teacher’s knowledge about volleyball and also how to motivate the athletes at the school level to start practicing volleyball and beach volleyball.
On the last day of the course 120 children took part in the morning lectures, where the teachers practiced new drills and competition formats. The seminar was part of the development plan of the NORCECA Confederation in coordination with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
Santizo stated to Ambergris Today that he is putting everything he learned at the seminar to good use here in San Pedro and Belize. He is currently preparing the San Pedro High School teams for the Volleyball Regional Tournament which will be held on October 26, 2013 and the Nationals on the first week of November.
“After participating in the regionals and nationals, my plans are to move into primary schools and get more children involved in volleyball,” stated Santizo. “I want to make workshops for physical education teachers and students so that by the time the children enter high school they already know the rules and basic of volleyball competitions. I also plan on holding annual summer camps as this sport seems to be dying out in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. This is very sad to say because it was once a very popular game.”
Erick plans on working with primary school children early in 2014; any schools interested can contact Eric at 605-0963.
