Development

Wrestling Key Player in ASOIF's 'Women Lead Sports' Programme

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - 20:12 By United World Wrestling Press

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Led by UWW Development Director Deqa Niamkey, wrestling and its development team played a key role in fulfilling ASOIF's mission to provide classes and leadership opportunities to female leaders in sport looking to "strengthen their self-confidence and acquire important skills to influence, negotiate, communicate, navigate politics, manage stakeholders and lead in male-dominated environments"

A snippet from the ASOIF article:

During the last two months, more than 60 future women leaders from ASOIF’s member federations successfully completed a series of virtual live-coaching sessions, aimed at preparing them to serve in elective positions of their respective International Federation (IF), Continental Association or National Federation.

The “Women Lead Sports” online masterclass, run by professional coach Gabriela Mueller, was created to help increase the number of women in leadership positions across the Olympic Movement. Amongst others, participants learn how to strengthen their self-confidence and acquire important skills to influence, negotiate, communicate, navigate politics, manage stakeholders and lead in male-dominated environments. They also receive personalised coaching, helping them to define their next strategic steps. The course tailored to ASOIF’s member federations was adapted to the current reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, with congresses and elections taking place in different formats and requiring strong skills in digital communication. Senior women leaders joined certain sessions to share their experience, provide advice and inspire.

“The programme was a swift and effective response to prepare an equal future in a COVID-19 sports world and thereafter”, said Gabriela Mueller. “Even though in many cases the pandemic has been gender-regressive across several sectors, the online masterclass empowers women to run campaigns, get elected and lead.”

Full story on the ASOIF website, here

Wrestling Hosts Continental Educator Course in Morocco

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 - 22:01 By United World Wrestling Press

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EL JADIDA, Morocco (March 24) -- United World Wrestling's continental educator course, organized by UWW Africa, Royal Morocco Wrestling Federation and UWW Development Department, was held March 9-11 in El Jadida, Morocco.

The course took place at the UWW continental training center with the participation of four high-level coaches and a referee under the expertise of Vincent AKA, UWW Development Officer and Master Educator.

The course proved to be a great success and will allow newly certified educators to deliver courses throughout a continent that is in great need of refereeing and coaching development. 

Kamel BOUAZIZ (TUN), Akuh PURITY (NGR), Christian DANGA (CAF), Juan Maren DELIS (CUB), and Alexis RODRIGUEZ (CUB) participated in the course, which focused on various areas of teaching elements while providing practical expertise in the delivery of wrestling education.


The program was divided into three intense working days for the participants in theoretical and practical session. On the final day, Moroccan referees and coaches attended a group session where the educators delivered the elements learned the previous days.

"I highly appreciate the format and this new approach of teaching that will empower the participants practical and methodological knowledge while constantly self-reflecting on the key areas linked to their expertise," said Bouaziz. "I am sure this new format will highly contribute to the development of our sport on the continent that is in high need and demand.


Akuh reflected on the knowledge he gained from the course and how he can help others.

"Through the period of this course I have been taught to observe carefully, listen to questions, discover what interests coaches and officials, and then provide them with opportunity to explore," said Akuh. "I have acquired more knowledge, learned new methods and skills of development. The educator course thought me that leadership is having passion to serve and make others grow.

UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY provided updates on the UWW Development programs and the process of delivery of the courses.

"I am very happy that this course took place despite the current global challenge," said Niamkey. "The African continent requires great assistance in the education of wrestling content for many nations and in view of the Youth Olympic Games 2022, the newly certified educators will highly contribute to the growth of wrestling."

 UWW Africa President Fouad MESKOUT believes the course will help increase the number of Olympic wrestling nations on the continent. 

"The course has provided great expertise to the participants that will contribute to increasing the number of Olympic wrestling nations on the continent," said Meskout. "Currently most of our national federations practice traditional wrestling and the continent is overflowing with great talent. I am sure that in the coming years we will host more national courses while implementing the required educational pathway for our member federations that will show immediate results."