Majlis Ekuin Malaysia (MEM), reports Malik Jeremiah, has introduced another level of coach accreditation to further develop the nation’s equestrian coaching program.

The 6th of December 2004 was an important day for 14 equestrians who becoame the first persons to be assessed as Introductory Coaches under the MEM/EFA Coach Accreditation Scheme. The Course was held at the Malaysian Armed Forces Equestrian Enter (MAFEC) at the Kuala Lumpur Air Base on 4-10 December 2004.

The Council has incorporated the principles of Recognition of Current Competency into its coach training and accreditation program. Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) is an acknowledgement that people gain skills and knowledge in many different ways. This may be through prior learning via formal training and/or life and work experiences. RCC ensures that all relevant skills and knowledge that someone has gained before a coaching course is started can be taken into account. Trainees therefore avoid having to participate in unnecessary repeat learning experiences.

ASSESSORS FROM AUSTRALIA

To enable our trainees to be assessed, the Council invited two Coach Educators and Workplace Assessors from Australia to conduct the training and assessment, which was held at MAFEC. The assessors were Diana Keach from Adelaide, South Australia, and Christine Johnson from Sydney, New South Wales. It was the first time to Malaysia for Christine and the third visit for Diana, who specializes in teaching of young riders.

Christine has this to say, “I have been very impressed with the infrastructure you are putting in place, to ‘grow’ a unified Coaching System in Malaysia. Whilst your system is smaller and newer than out Australian System, I can see this affords you some advantages.”

“If you establish unified standards form the grass-roots level, you will be able to establish higher levels of coaches, culminating with your own upper levels of Coach Educators and Assessors,” she adds. “Aligning yourself with our EFA/NCAS has many advantages for both countries. I have been very delighted with the enthusiasm of the Introductory and Level 1 coach Trainers I have met and their hunger to improve their knowledge and skills.”

Di Keach too was full of praise saying, “The enthusiasm and commitment of almost all the coaches was extremely good, resulting in a very good atmosphere through the three days of assessment. The riding skills of some coaches benefited from the opportunity to receive coaching, but on the whole I feel the overall riding was better than at my previous similar clinic in July/August this year. The safety standard of the Malaysian coaches on the whole is very good and they are to be congratulated.”

LEVEL 1 COACHES

In addition to accrediting Introductory Level Coaches, Di and Christine also passed four candidates as Level 1 Coaches. The new Level 1 Coaches are Amanda Garran (MAFEC); Yasmin Fabiny (Freelance Coach); Hazrin Abdullah (STC Equestrian Center); and Inspector Shaipul Anuar (Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur).

Prior to the commencement of the assessment, a three-day updating clinic for Level 1 Coaches was also held at the same venue. The Level 1 Coaches had the opportunity to participate in discussions and feedback on a variety of topics that included teaching adult beginners, dealing with a serious accident scenario, jumping and setting up schooling exercises, lungeing a horse and lungeing a rider on horseback.

All Council Coaches are required to attend a minimum of at least one updating session per year. Failure to do so over a minimum period could result in Coach taken off the list will not be allowed to conduct any of the Council’s courses such as the Orientation Level Course in Basic Horse Management.