Eleven coaches earn World Athletics Level 1 certification in TCI
Eleven track and field coaches successfully completed the practical component of the World Athletics Coaches Education and Certification System Level 1 course at the National Stadium on September 19, strengthening the pool of qualified coaches in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The assessment was organised by the Turks and Caicos Amateur Athletic Association and conducted by World Athletics Coaches Council member and CECS instructor David Riley. Coach Randy Ford facilitated the two-day exercise, held on September 18 and 19.
The successful coaches were Roshano Cox, Acasia Downer, Alexander Ewing, Christopher Foster, Angelo Garland, Richardo Johnson, Dwight Myrie, Ronald Parker, Jody Pusey, Natanya Rodney and Kenesha Thompson.
Foster, Garland, Myrie, Parker, Pusey, Rodney and Thompson were also recommended to pursue Level 2 certification.
The practical assessment followed a 30-module online programme which candidates were required to complete. Seventeen coaches were actively engaged in the Level 1 programme by the first week of September, up from the 12 who initially expressed interest in August.
The certification drive followed a directive issued by the TCAAA Executive earlier in 2026. Under the directive, coaches must obtain at least Level 1 certification under the new CECS framework to operate a track club or serve as a head or assistant coach travelling with a national team. The requirement applies both to uncertified coaches and those who held qualifications under the previous system.
Riley said Level 1 coaches are expected to demonstrate competence across the major areas of track and field, including sprints and hurdles, middle- and long-distance running, throws, jumps and race walking. The qualification prepares coaches to work with athletes up to age 16, while specialization begins at Level 2.
During the assessment, each candidate conducted a practical session based on an assigned task. Candidates were evaluated individually on their technical knowledge, communication, session organisation and ability to guide athletes through the required skills.
Riley was encouraged by the overall standard.
“They know what they’re doing,” he said. “It may just be a matter of implementation and having the right group of athletes motivated, but the coaches are knowledgeable.”
He added that the candidates displayed more than a basic understanding of the course material and appeared capable of developing athletes.
Riley singled out Thompson and Downer for their ability to move athletes from simple to more complex skills. He praised the accuracy and logical progression of their coaching sequences and encouraged both women to expand their experience by working with teenage athletes as well as primary-school students.
His general feedback also focused on the need for coaches to reduce lengthy verbal explanations and give athletes more opportunities to perform.
“In coaching, you talk less and show more,” Riley advised.
He encouraged coaches to allow athletes to attempt skills, reinforce correct execution and intervene with corrections when necessary. Riley also urged participants to continue learning and to document their training methods, including during successful seasons, to support future planning and improvement.
Garland, head of sports performance at the TCI Sports Commission and one of the successful candidates, described the programme as demanding but valuable.
“The theory was intense—very intense,” Garland said. “The theory is much different from the practical. I was a track and field athlete, so learning the more delicate parts of the field events was new. I’m grateful for the information and everything learned.”
Garland believes the certification programme will benefit athletes and coaches throughout the territory by creating a consistent foundation for coaching.
“Everyone now has a standard from World Athletics that they have to follow,” he said. “That will raise the national standard of the Turks and Caicos. Even though each coach has their own philosophy, the fundamentals and foundations will be built on one worldwide standard.”
Several TCI coaches have already progressed within the new CECS structure. Delano Williams, Randy Ford and Courtney Missick have attained Level 2 certification in sprints. Ford was also previously certified at Level 2 in middle-distance running, long-distance running and race walking.
Coaches who complete Level 1 can pursue Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications depending on their professional goals. The TCAAA determines how frequently the certification courses are conducted locally.
Riley’s completed assessment sheets were left with Ford for the association’s signature and submission to World Athletics.
The successful completion of the practical component represents another step in the TCAAA’s effort to build a more qualified coaching workforce and establish consistent standards for athlete development across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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