WHO'S WORLD OF FANTASY WILL YOU DIVE INTO NEXT?

Many times we are afraid of putting our ideas out there in the fear that someone could steal it and use it. Something I heard a while back, though, is that there’s no new idea under the sun…. With that in mind, allow me to put into writing an idea or two that I have been thinking of, and if you do manage to start something out of this, then good for you. For me, it is my next step 🙂

In September 2020, I began my entrepeneurial (spelling?) journey by organising bike races. My main objective had been to boost the quality of cycling in Kenya through competition. Races give one the opportunity and reason to train smarter and more for a better performance in the future. I won’t go too much into the details, though.

It worked for a time, especially since, through our races, we could (and did) collect performance data and compile them throughout the season. This way, we would help our athletes/competitors keep track of their progress over time. As I said, it worked…for a time. The idea was, however, proving almost impossible for the audience targeted; something about teaching an old dog new tricks?

In 2022, after the Mini-Crit Wars #2 cycling race held at Kasarani, it proved rather impossible to keep to that path. Attendance was low, and we clearly weren’t having that much of an impact in that field. It was time to get back to the drawing board and figure out a new plan of attack. And this is what I have so far, though I may not go too much into the details in this blog.

In September 2019, I began my undergraduate studies in Physical Education (B. Ed (P.E)), and I think I discovered a lot of my current life’s work in that course. 2020 is after 2019, right?

With the cycling races, I intended to improve the quality of Kenyan cyclists. With the current plan, the idea is to make, at the very least, physical activity a lifestyle in the individual’s life. How? By making it a habit from as early on as possible. Emphasis on “at the very least”. This implies that by the time one is through with our program, an active lifestyle should be second-nature for them.

The second objective is to direct this habit into one’s desired life. At some point in the program, one will get to decide if they would like to be active recreationally or competitively. By the time of making this decision, however, they will have been exposed to the basic skills of many sports (taught as subjects) thus leading to diversification. Heck, the plan is to have them choose a main sport and two others for back-up when it’s time to make the decision (somewhere between 12 and 14 years old).

Ultimately, the goal of making sports a part of our Kenyan culture and heritage is in play behind the scenes. It’s not about creating world class athletes only; rather, it’s about physically developing all persons for their betterment in their individual lives.

In my coaching career so far, I have met individuals who have confessed that they started playing too late. There are some who, for example, started playing sports at university (with some of them already in the school teams!) when they could have started much earlier had they had the opportunity. Perhaps you are one such person who never even got to start?

Looking at my line of work, it would be expected that I should focus on creating the best athletes that I can. After all, isn’t that what a coach does? But I have instead decided to focus my attention on making sports and physical activity a lifestyle, even for the common person seated next to you. And if in the process I do manage to create the best athletes, so be it. At the end of the day, let one practise an active activity as frequently as they breathe! 🙂

Here’s the plan: from 2-6 years old, the main objective will be teaching children how to play for the sake of it, and developing the habit as their bodies continue developing; between 7 and 12/3 years, basic skills in numerous sports will be taught with emphasis on learning how to play well + broaden one’s perspectives; after making the big decision, 13/4-19 years old will be for sport specialisation, including theory; then they graduate to pro sports (if competitive) or recreational sports until retirement age; then between 35/6/7/8 – 60 years old, individuals are assisted in retirement (especially if competitive) and adjustment to that life, before graduating to the legacy years (60 years +).

There’s a lot more to the plan. All I have done is try lay it out in a simplified format.

I think it would be safe to mention at this point that what I am trying to achieve is bigger than me…and it is my hope that it will last for centuries to come.

For now we’re still laying the groundwork, but if you feel like you can run with this idea or its modification, feel free. The betterment of the human race (in sport) is my #1 goal. I hope it’s yours too. Good luck!

(This is a fully opined article, so feel free to agree or disagree in the comments below)