BJSS Coming Up With Special Athletics Programmes For Schoolchildren

Good job: The participants were presented with prizes by BJSS senior assistant Suhaimi Soon (left) and former national Sean Paul (right).

THE Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) has decided to initiate athletics programmes for children.

BJSS, with Datuk Marina Chin at the helm, has launched a pilot programme called Kids’ Athletics during the International Combined Events championships at the National Sports Council (NSC) training centre in Bukit Jalil recently.

The athletics coaches from BJSS had drawn up a circuit training programme for children aged below eight. They also invited about 25 children to take part in the programme. All participants, guided by the coaches, had to go through the various events — sprints and hurdles, forward squat jumps, javelin and slalom course — during the hour-long programme.

Marina said the programme was to introduce the various events in athletics to children.

“The children had a wonderful time and they were enthusiastic. We are teaching them the basics in athletics. We received encouraging feedback. We are looking at the possibility of having a weekly programme.

Push forth: A participant throwing the javelin.

“The programme will be at the NSC training centre. The children will have the opportunity to go through a more organised programme. Eventually we would like to see them active in athletics,’’ said Marina.

Former national hurdler Ithnin Mahadi, a teacher at BJSS, said the coaches would be present at the coaching sessions.

“We also have plans to get the athletes from BJSS to assist the coaches. Our vision is to introduce the students to be part of the programme. The students can also be mentors to the young children,’’ said Ithnin.

The coaches, Marina said, were also expected to come out with a structured training programme as well as a manual.

“The manual can be distributed and the programme can be initiated in other parts of the country,’’ she added.