About Us
We advocate for coaching excellence in Africa.
Our call:
Train the person first, not the sport
The Sports Wave Africa Foundation (SWAF) is a Kenyan organization dedicated to advancing coaching education through the establishment of an online resource platform. Insights from sports experts, who have volunteered their knowledge from around the world, enhance this platform.
Our objective is to create a platform where local coaches and experts can share insights, allowing them to connect and collaborate. This sharing will enhance the effectiveness of sports coaching, management, and programs throughout Africa.
By endeavoring to position, support, and promote coaching education and development in Kenya and Africa, our aim is to encourage coaches to embrace the application of tested scientific methods and programs. The project aims not only to improve sports performance but also to enhance working conditions and provide new opportunities for economic empowerment.
The majority of coaches in Africa, do not have formal sports coaching education structure. Basically the coaches in Africa learn Sports coaching through apprenticeship where many of them learn from their more experienced counterparts. There are no special coaching education institutions for the sector and this has undermined the competitiveness of the African coach at the global stage and therefore the need to introduce formal coaching education programs.
Impediment of Education Costs
At Sports Wave Africa Foundation, we are cognizant of the fact of high costs associated with University Education, we are also aware of the lack of clear professional growth structures and comprehensive government policies on coaches’ education and development. This has undermined the growth and quality of coaching across Africa. Sports Wave Africa Foundation therefore has introduced a blended and cheaper learning systems to support, position and promote sports coaching education in African .
No Specific Sports Research Institutions in Africa
Since the organization clearly understands that, coaching is the very core of sporting success in any nation, because it fine-tunes participation, performance and builds on the technical and tactical capabilities of the coaches and so therefore, the great need to promote and support coaching education programs in Africa.
Lack of specific sports research institutions in Africa that work directly with the sports organizations or coaches to share scientific knowledge has disadvantaged the African coach in terms of capacity building and therefore the need to seek for collaborations with both local and foreign higher education institution to join in the program.
Access to Education Materials
Some of the reasons why coaches are not benefiting from the new knowledge generated in the higher learning institutions is lack of direct access to sports scientist. Funds to reach and read the scientific journals and poor understanding of academic language which is used in the scientific publications is a major challenge. Sports Wave Africa Foundation collaborate with volunteers to support while using easy languages, broken down topics for ease of understanding, recorded lessons, one on one tuition and conducting seminars within communities to promote and support coaching education in Africa.
No Special Schools or Colleges for Sports Coaching
Besides universities which have prohibitive costs, there are no special schools or colleges for sports coaching, we have embraced a continuous and flexible continuous learning process outside the formal institutions that, also recognizes prior and adult learning experiences. Through our plat form we have free recorded lessons, podcast, articles and continuous scheduled live online lessons for both elite and grassroots coaches. Because there are no specific coaching education institutions, we encourage self paced learning approach carried out in phases and tested after every six months by our volunteer experts.
Interviews with our champions
As part of learning, we have a platform to talk to our athlete champions from various fields to give their insights and experiences as top athletes. These top athletes also serve as role models to upcoming athletes in school, community clubs and national federation. These successful athletes provide insight into their training programs and mindset that makes them the best in their fields. For those who would like to be trained or have a personal session with these athletes, we are always ready to facilitate.
What do we want to see as an organization?
- Improved coaches’ quality of life and decent work environment.
- Reduced career threatening injuries in sports to save on resources and talents
- To see less early burnout due to improper training and coaching techniques
- To see improved quality of the experience in sports by athletes, coaches and fans
- To see a proud nation that wins : A country that wins has patriotic citizens and loyal sponsors.
- To see increased participation in sports out of proper coaching techniques
- To see more employment opportunities and other economic activities around sports
- To see less athlete migration to other countries.
How do we sustain ourselves as an organization?
Through well wishers, donations and sponsors and from a pool of our professional collaborators we offer professionals services on the following areas.
- Events marketing
- Events management
- Sports management services
Our motto as sports wave Africa foundation is to “train the person first not the sport.”