FIJI Primary Schools Athletics Association secretary Patrick Bower has called on schools to improve sporting skills of students within their physical education lessons.
Speaking at the launch of the FMF Chow Games, Bower said the FMF Games offers the encouragement for students to take their skills to the next level.
“I think one of the big problems for us in the country at the moment is that the primary schools and schools in general are not running proper physical education programs to facilitate the development of all sporting skills,” said Bower.
“So making it possible, FMF has come on board through the Chow Games to facilitate that.
“We can do it at the primary school level, ideally we would like to start from each of the schools to encourage students to take their skills to the next level,” he added.
Bower stressed the importance of athletes to know certain skills in their events which could take them a long way.
“We can take an example of a thrower, they will have to learn to do the exercises, and the warm-ups and manage working with other schools and competing with them.
“These are critical skills that need to go with the children in tertiary level and as they move on to become Fiji reps.
“We cannot leave it until they reach secondary school level where they will start playing rugby or soccer and they will start formulating these things into the children’s lives, these need to begin from a primary school level,” said Bower.
The FMF Chow Games begin this Friday at the ANZ Stadium.
