Maurice Smith eyeing multi-event coaching in high schools

World Champs decathlon silver medallist Maurice Smith wants to start a multi-discipline coaching programme in Jamaica. Smith said recently that he would be looking to reach out to local high schools which compete at the annual ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Championships.

Thirty-six-year-old Smith represented Jamaica at two Olympic Games (2004 and 2008), and a total of four World Championships (2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011). He won silver at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, picking up a total of 8,644 points.

According to Smith, who was part of Calabar's coaching team during their successful Boys' Championships defence, he is looking to into the schools where he can host seminars on the multi-discipline events.

"Just like I was everywhere on the track, I want to be everywhere in the schools, making positive changes in the multi-disciplines.

"For me, I'd rather work with youth, as I am an educator, and I have my bachelor's in education, my thing is not necessarily for the classroom because I am very passionate about the sports and education in sports, so I want to help teach the youth the multi-disciplines," he told The Gleaner.

Confident

Smith, who broke the Pan American Games record in 2007, winning his first international gold medal, remains confident that he will be able to train, and impart knowledge to upcoming athletes who want to take up the multi-disciplinary events.

"I enjoy coaching at this level because when you have done it, and they understand that, it's easier to effect change," he continued.

"Not only can I explain, I can also demonstrate because I am very much still in great condition," assured the 36-year-old who is back home having lived overseas since 1999.