SCIENTIFIC COACHING APPROACH: A MEANS OF EMPOWERING NIGERIAN COLLEGIATE COACHES FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Coaching athletes is multi- dimensional and needs a multi- dimensional approach to successfully enhanced athlete’s performance. This paper reviewed some scientific approaches to coaching that have direct bearing on the health and fitness of the athletes which subsequently lead to improve skills and performance. Periodic testing of athlete’s functional capabilities before, during and performance with assessing athletes movement from biomechanical point of view was discussed as a coaching pattern. Evidences has shown that a number of athletes collapse when playing (recently Muamba of Bolton England) and some meet their instant death on the playing pitch, Sam Okoraji of Nigeria and Vivian Mc Foe of Cameroon) as a result of heart failure and other related complications. The Nigerian Collegiate Coaches need these scientific approaches to his coaching experience to minimize injuries, improve skills and enhance athlete’s performance.