Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 27: Notwithstanding the ongoing Covid lockdown and the Government issuing SOPs in view of the surging cases, the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council has decided to conduct training sessions and videography of the same during the prevailing pandemic situation.
Sources in the J&K Sports Council said that the senior officials have ‘verbally’ dictated the Coaches and Instructors to tighten their belts as they have to remain present at the Maulana Azad Stadium for training cum demonstrations.
The sessions are to be video-graphed by the dedicated camera person at a set up to be readied by the council in stadium premises within days, sources added.
The training cum demonstration roster is learnt to have been prepared accordingly and soon to be issued to the Coaches/Instructors, sources further said, adding that the Joint Secretary (Kashmir) and Joint Secretary (Jammu), conducted a joint online meeting in this connection with coaches and the senior officials of twin regions.
The J&K Sports Council had also tweeted: “Online Coaching Program” (Meeting of Officers and Coaches of @JKSportsCouncil under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary (K) at Gindun Sports Centre, Raj Bagh Srinagar).”
The meeting of Coaches/Instructors from 16 disciplines was conducted comprising Yoga, Gymnastics, Fencing, Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo, Wushu, Thangta, Athletics, Football, Cricket, Hockey, Water Sports, Lawn Tennis, Volleyball and Basketball. Moreover, Health and Fitness trainer, Sports Nutrition experts also attended the meeting.
“If the training classes are to be held manually with a group of trainees, who will attend it in the prevailing situation and who will be made accountable if anybody gets infected?” asked a senior coach.
Quoting a recent example wherein the management of a private school allegedly called teachers to school despite directions from the administration and one of the teachers got infected of COVID-19 and later died, the Coach expressed, “it is shocking to see that in such a volatile situation, the Council is more bothered in coaching when people are after saving lives by preventing themselves from getting infected from this killer virus.”
On condition of anonymity, a senior official said: “The coaches may have to report at least thrice a week as per roaster being prepared and conduct 30 minutes demonstration, which will be videographed and to be uploaded on social media platforms like Youtube to benefit trainees in rural areas after being approved by the Secretary.”
“Firstly trainees will not attend the sessions, secondly, what is the fun that a coach will go to the studio like set up, give tips and video-graphed and thirdly, most important is that now a days, everything is available on social platforms then what our coaches will do without infrastructure and trainees. It will be a mockery,” he asserted.
Sources said that the plan on how to conduct the sessions (offline, online or manually) and what criteria will be adopted by taking all COVID guidelines into consideration, is being finalised soon in a meeting to be convened by the Divisional Sports Officer (DSO) cum Joint Secretary, Jammu.
The employees however, have expressed resentment over the decision in this situation especially when the Government is gearing up to fight apprehended `Third Wave’ of Covid, which is likely to hit children.
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