PHILIPSBURG--The Sint Maarten National Athletic Federation, in collaboration with the Dutch Athletics Federation (Atletiekunie), has joined forces to host a Level 2 Training Programme for Assistant Coaches in Athletics, offering a major opportunity for the SSS countries to enhance coaching skills and build regional capacity.
Twenty assistant coaches from St Maarten, Saba and Statia, including members of Dynamics Sporting Club, the Methodist Agogic Center BMF campus, St. Eustatius Sports Facilities, Saba, and the GvP school in St. Eustatius, participated in the first two sessions, which took place over the weekend of Saturday, November 1, and Sunday, November 2, 2025. The sessions combined practical and theoretical training focused on coaching children in athletics within their respective countries.
The programme addresses key areas such as dealing with behavioural challenges, making athletics fun for children aged 6 to 15 while still achieving training goals, and designing effective training sessions. Organisers said “for athletes, courses like these will assist in improving performance, teamwork and skill development. For coaches, it enhances knowledge, provides info on better athlete management and allows us to network and learn from each other.”
The final two sessions of the programme are scheduled for December 13 and 14, 2025. The initiative marks the first time that athletics in St Maarten has hosted or collaborated with the Atletiekunie to run a Level 2 athletics training course, representing an important step forward for sports development and youth empowerment across the region.
Organisers also expressed gratitude to the programme’s sponsors, including NSI, the Sports Federation, Dynamics Sporting Club, Naomi Korstanje, SXM Road Runners, and Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School, noting that the programme would not have been possible without their support.
