Smythe happy with coaching direction

HEAD COACH of Muschett High School’s track and field team, Garth Smythe, is revelling in his rise to being one of the top junior coaches in Jamaica and though there have been calls for him to be part of the country’s national setup, he isn’t bothered.

According to Smythe, being recognised as a top coach is satisfactory.

“Jamaica has so many good coaches. You have to just be patient and wait on your turn until you are called upon. I was recognised by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and World Athletics in November last year. I was given an award as one of the top coaches in the country as well. I am a World Athletics level three coach and a United States Track and Field Association level three sprints and jumps [coach]. That recognisation in itself speaks a lot,” Smythe said.

Based in western Jamaica, Smythe has been coaching for more than 20 years.

Those 20 years, Smythe said, have not been difficult.

“I try to make it as enjoyable as possible. The ones enjoying themselves are going to stick around and the ones who seem reluctant, they will quit. I try to find ways to motivate them because at the end of the day, it’s also about having fun,” Smythe explained.

Still, Smythe is not resting on his laurels and believes wholeheartedly there are always improvements to be made.

He encourages his athletes to set targets for themselves, never settle and continue to push for better performances.

“A lot of people don’t know, but I have coached a lot of athletes on senior teams. I have also coached athletes that have represented quite a few other countries at the developmental level. Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica Republic and St Lucia, so I have done my fair share,” said Smythe.

Smythe understands the ups and downs of track and field and takes the good with the bad.

“These are children ranging from ages 12 to 18. They are still learning; they are going to make mistakes. What I encourage them to do, once they make a mistake, is to allow themselves to forget about it and move on to the next track meet. They always bounce back, so that is good,” Smythe said.

The track and field coach says his team is in high spirits ahead of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships, the showpiece event of the high school track season.

“Apart from a few injuries, based on the work that they have put in, we are very confident and optimistic that we will get into a few more finals this year at the National Boys and Girls Champs. I believe maybe one or two of them will make it on the Carifta team again this year,” Smythe said.

The Carifta trials take place this weekend, beginning on Friday.