FEI Solidarity Application and ZANEF
In June 2014, ZANEF applied to FEI Solidarity for funding to assist ZANEF to
achieve the following objectives:
 To represent and coordinate Equestrian Sports in Zambia and
strengthen linkages with the international arena.
 To promote and advocate for all Equestrian Sport in Zambia.
 To ensure the highest standards are reached in all disciplines.
We applied for four specific activities:
1. Consultant on Infrastructures for Equestrian activities.
2. National Coach to identify future elite athletes, and build and prepare
athletes and their local coaches for Regional and International events,
including the Youth Olympic Games in 2018.
3. Assistance with IT solution for ZANEF On line Services.
4. Sports for All, Inclusivity and School programme.
Each of these four programmes is supported by FEI in different ways, which
are described below:
1
Consultant Infrastructures for Equestrian Activities
We applied for this support so as to improve infrastructure so that Zambia will
be able to improve all levels of competition and prepare for hosting 1* events.
FEI has responded to this request by sending Jean-Philippe Camboulives
from FEI Solidarity to visit Zambia in 2015. He will assess ZANEF from
various perspectives, and offer advice on issues such as training capacity,
infrastructure, development of venues, equipment and ZANEF strategies for
improving equestrian sport in Zambia.
He will meet with ZANEF Committee, Vets, Olympic Committee, Coaches and
instructors, Sports Council, and with riders with their usual instructors or
coaches.
FEI Solidarity will cover his travel expenses and ZANEF his accommodation
and meals. Affiliated Clubs should apply to ZANEF to request his consultancy
services. Clubs should develop an outline of a strategic plan that describes
the Club’s future plans and goals. He will discuss plans, budgets and goals
with the Club and will advise on infrastructure projects with costs,
sustainability and suitability in mind.
Zara Nicolle is leading on this programme with Hannah Broad (Affiliated Clubs
representative).
2
National Coach to identify future elite athletes, and build and
prepare athletes and their local coaches for Regional and International
events, including the Youth Olympic Games in 2018.
The main purpose of this project is to improve the level of equestrian
competition in Zambia through employing a National Coach. The activity will
train local coaches and instructors so that the skills taught to athletes during
working clinics with the National Coach are sustained. The outcome is to
encourage and prepare athletes to compete regionally and internationally.
More specifically, this support is intended to improve the capacity of Zambia
to participate in the Youth Olympic movement by identifying likely athletes and
seeking support for them.
The application asked for FEI support to assist ZANEF to identify a National
Coach and enter into a contract for at least 6 visits in a year. It was intended
to:
1. Run six clinics for athletes and their trainers: (dressage, jumping and
eventing).
2. Design and implement a program of talent spotting.
3. Train a national team to compete regionally and internationally.
ZANEF has been awarded CHF10,000 for this programme. In the FEI letter of
agreement this was earmarked for “training athletes in Showjumping”. It is
understood that FEI is prioritising this area because there is only one place for
Zambia in YOG in 2018 and the YOG is a showjumping competition. (ref?).
Despite the FEI emphasis on show jumping, ZANEF has endeavoured to
select a National Coach who is well qualified and available to coach all
interested members and their instructors/trainers in equestrian disciplines in
which our members mostly participate (jumping, dressage and eventing).
Please note that a National Coach is NOT an Instructor but works with
athletes and their Instructors and Trainers to identify the direction and training
needs of individuals and/or teams to achieve their potential. (See Box)
The Coach
Gerry Flynn is Irish. He is a Level 3 FEI coach. He is an ex army officer, a
retired Commandant and Chief Instructor from the Army Equitation School in
Dublin, Ireland. He has had successful experience in show jumping and
eventing, competing to World Equestrian Games level. He has competed on
forty-two Nations Cup teams for Ireland, sixteen of which were winning teams.
He was also National Eventing Champion in Ireland.
Gerry Flynn is therefore extremely well qualified as a Coach in three main
disciplines – dressage, jumping and eventing.
ZANEF would like to encourage Affiliated Clubs and ZANEF trainers and
Instructors to use the services of the selected National Coach to assist them
in developing strategies to improve their equestrian standards of their
members.
ZANEF will use the FEI grant to pay for Gerry’s airfares for six visits during
2015. Lesson fees will be charged to cover his daily fees at a rate of around
US$150 per hour. We want to ensure that all members and their Instructors
should have the opportunity to benefit from the National Coach visits.
Coaches and Instructors should try and group their clients according to ability
so that costs per individual are kept low. Individual sessions will also be
available but at an additional cost. After his first visit, ZANEF will assess the
satisfaction of Affiliated Clubs, Instructors and Local Coaches and their clients
and propose changes to the format if needed (for example shorter individual
lessons or double lessons). To achieve the best from a National Coach, the
training needs of the members and their instructors will be taken into account.
Zara Nicolle is leading on this programme so please contact her for further
information. ZANEF will be sending out e mails with up to date information.
What is a COACH?
A coach is a person involved in the direction, instruction and training of the
operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople. A coach may also
be an Instructor. Sports coaches help people participating in sports to work
towards achieving their full potential, they bring out ability by identifying
needs and planning and implementing suitable training programs, which are
implemented by Instructors or Trainers. Whatever the context, coaching
involves developing the participants' physical and psychological fitness and
providing the best possible practical conditions in order to maximize their
performance.
WHAT DOES A COACH DO?
 Evaluate performance and provide suitable feedback.
 Assess strengths and weaknesses in a participant's performance
and identifying areas for further development.
 Adapt to the needs and interests of group or individual participants.
 Encourage participants to gain and develop skills, knowledge and
techniques.
 Ensure that participants train and perform to a high standard of
health and safety at all times.
 Inspire confidence and self-belief.
 Develop knowledge and understanding of fitness, injury, sports
psychology, and nutrition and sports science. They may support
professional sportspeople, sports teams, community teams or school
groups, working with them closely to improve performance.
3
Assistance with IT solution for ZANEF On line Services
The FEI has already made contact and will be supporting a very exciting
programme that will develop the ZANEF IT platform.
Ceri Coventry is leading on this and if anyone is interested please contact her.
4
Sports for All, Inclusivity and School programme.
The application addresses one of the three ZANEF Strategic Objectives,
which is:
To promote and advocate for all Equestrian Sport in Zambia.
Traditionally, equestrian sport in Zambia has been supported by people from
European backgrounds and those that have a history of equestrian sport (a
small part of Zambian society). For sustainability of the sport, it is necessary
to encourage Zambian nationals to become involved in equestrian sports.
The underlying objectives of this project are:
1) to broaden the base of athletes by increasing numbers of young
athletes, in particular indigenous Zambian youth;
2) to identify and overcome potential barriers for those wishing to
participate in equestrian sports, particularly indigenous Zambian youth,
who are currently under-represented in sport
3) to offer Zambian youth opportunities to ride, compete, officiate, coach,
volunteer and run equestrian sports.
FEI has approved CHF 4,000 for the funding of this programme to fund 10
children, 2 hours equestrian training per week for 40 weeks through the
Affiliated Clubs.
ZANEF committee hopes that Affiliated Clubs, and ZANEF itself to
supplement the funds through matching funding, thereby increasing the funds
available so that we are able to support a full Schools programme.
If any Affiliated Club is keen to participate please contact ZANEF for more
details. Clare Pope (PR) is leading on this programme with Hannah Broad
(Clubs representative).