Badminton coaches to have contract system

JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) plans to employ a contract system for coaches at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, as a way to improve the performance of the coaches.

PBSI secretary-general Leo Chandra Wiranata said on Monday the system will become effective on Feb. 1, the same day the association announces which coaches and players have been invited to join the center.

"Since the tenure of the current officials will end by the end of this year, we will offer one-year contracts. The contracts will contain the responsibility of the coaches, targets for their players, the punishments if they fail (to meet these targets) and rewards for their success," Leo said.

Between eight and 10 coaches will be recruited to the center, less than the current 13. Women's singles coach Retno Kustiyah, her assistant Lani and women's doubles coach Imelda Wigoeno submitted their resignations late last year.

The criteria for potential coaches are leadership, self- confidence, discipline, performance and character. They also must have a coaching certificate from PBSI, experience in coaching at the club level and the ability to arrange training programs, and it is preferable if they are former athletes.

Leo hinted that some of the current coaches would remain at the center, but he declined to identify them. He also said PBSI would hire a full-time physical trainer to improve the physical fitness of athletes.

Currently, PBSI only retains a physical trainer weeks before major events, including the Thomas and Uber cups, the Sudirman Cup, the World Championships and the Olympic Games.

Leo declined to provide the salary range of the coaches.

PBSI currently does not employ coaches on a contract basis, nor does it state in writing the responsibilities or targets of the coaches.

Leo also said PBSI would likely reduce the number of players at the center to 38 from 56.

He also said that scheduled for discussion at PBSI's annual congress in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, this weekend was the possibility of establishing the badminton center as an independent body outside of the PBSI, with the center's training director, Christian Hadinata, made directly responsible to PBSI chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo.

"This would merely be to place the focus on the training program. We will try it for the remaining period. If it fails, the new officials can return to the old system," he said. (yan)