The Air Force Sports Council together with Sports and Exercise Medicine Unit at the SLAF Hospital, Base Katunayake, organized a one-day workshop titled ‘Thriving Excellence in Coaching' for coaches and assistant coaches today (18 November 2024) at Air Force Headquarters. The programme was designed to enhance the participants' understanding of effective coaching methodologies while addressing the diverse challenges faced in both sports and military settings.  

The workshop commenced with a welcome address and introduction by Group Captain Eranda Geeganage, Secretary of the Air Force Sports Council. Following this, the Consultant Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician, Group Captain (Dr) Sherika Samarasinghe,  provided an overview of the programme, outlining its main focus.

Participants engaged in a series of interactive and thought-provoking sessions throughout the day. The topics covered during the workshop included musculoskeletal case scenarios, which provided practical insights into managing sports-related injuries. A motivational session focused on maintaining a winning mindset, emphasizing consistency and resilience in overcoming setbacks. Discussions also centered around balancing military responsibilities with sports training to enhance player performance. Further topics included collaborative problem-solving in musculoskeletal cases and the role of sports nutrition in optimizing athlete performance.  

The resource personnel for the sessions were Head Coach of Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket, Mr. Rumesh Rathnayake, Clinical Psychologist,  Wing Commander Susil Premarathne, Physiotherapist, Squadron Leader CE Neththikumara and Nutritionist, Squadron Leader TSM Thilakarathna conducted the sessions.

The workshop concluded with closing remarks and the awarding of certificates to the participants. Additionally, the resource personnel were honoured with tokens of appreciation in recognition of their valuable contributions to the programme and their commitment to professional development.