Badminton coaches to have contract system

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)