Coaches upskilled in landmark physiotherapy workshop

The National Sports Commission (NSC), in partnership with the Ministry of Health, launched a first-of-its-kind Physiotherapy Seminar for Coaches at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday.

The mission is to bridge the gap between the doctor’s clinic and the dugout to ensure athlete safety is never left to chance.

For years, the leap from clinical sports medicine to the everyday training pitch has been a wide one and this one-day intensive programme is the Government’s direct response, aiming to professionalise athlete welfare across every discipline in the country.

Close to 90 coaches registered for the seminar.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, alongside NSC Deputy Chair Cristy Campbell and Dr Ariane Mangar, Director of Rehabilitation Services, oversaw a curriculum delivered by the country’s leading physiotherapists.

The workshop moved beyond basic first aid, tackling complex physiological issues led by a team of clinical experts:

• Injury Mechanics: Vanessa Wickham opened the day by defining the coach’s role as the “first line of athlete safety,” breaking down how coaching decisions directly link to injury patterns.
• Acute Management: Jana Edghill led a critical session on concussion recognition and “Heat Illness”—a topic of paramount importance in Guyana’s tropical climate—focusing on cooling and hydration strategies.
• Physical Prep: Angelica Holder and Neil Barry shifted the focus to the importance of structured warm-ups and the role of Strength and Conditioning in long-term resilience.
• Elite Standards: Kelly Coonjah introduced a “Return to Play” framework and addressed “Special Considerations,” including growth spurts in youth athletes and the “Male Athlete Triad.”

The seminar concluded with a look toward the “Way Forward,” where coaches were introduced to the IOC Injury Prevention Protocol.

The focus has now shifted to establishing an injury-tracking register and formal referral systems to ensure that no athlete falls through the cracks.

The revolution doesn’t stop at the physical as the NSC confirmed that a dedicated Sports Psychology Seminar is already in the works and a targeted programme for women in sport, differently-abled and master’s athletes.