Optimist Training Courses IODA has an ongoing programme of courses to train "basic-level" coaches. These are intended for countries which do not have an established national coaching programme. An experienced Optimist trainer is sent to conduct a course of max. ten days duration. Ideally ten coaches attend, together with not more than 20 under-13 sailors. Travel costs and fees are paid by IODA, up to US$2,500 per course.

• Applications are accepted only from national Optimist associations or sailing federations which are members of IODA, and all applications should be made through them. A list of these members is at ioda-members.html

• Preference is given to courses for coaches from more than one country

• Courses may be in any language spoken by a group of countries.

• September through March are the preferred months

Past courses have been held in Algeria, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Israel, Lithuania, Malta, Morocco, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Tahiti, Tunisia, Turkey, Trinidad and Zimbabwe.

The most recent course was held in Serbia in August 2007 (see below).

Further Applications are invited for 2008.

E-mail to secretariat@optiworld.org

Instructor-Training Course in Serbia An IODA Instructor-Training Course was held in conjunction with the Sailing Federation of Serbia on 6-16 August. The course, for basic-level coaches, was attended by 17 coaches from eight clubs - only three of them current parents. Given by Matevz Ravnikar from Slovenia it covered: Sailing School Organization: Basics, exercises for beginners etc. Training: Setting up the Optimist, speed training, manoeuvres, starts Leading the Team at Regattas: motivation, discipline, teamwork The course was co-ordinated by Professor Zoran Bratusa from the Faculty of Sport in Belgrade who expressed great satisfaction at the methodology and content of the course.