Last May just passed saw the latest worldwide workshop in World Skate’s Skateboard Coach Education and Accreditation System Level 1 rollout.

As with Lithuania and Singapore before them, Benin in West Africa have begun the process of formalising progression pathways for their skateboard coaches which will allow them to develop alongside the activity in their country.

Hosted at the excellent Cotonou skatepark, our very experienced Park skateboarding judge Chloe Bernard was accompanied by globetrotting skateboarder Basile Danet, an experienced educator himself within West Africa- and a vital aspect of our ability to deliver this symposium.

As our first coaching programme in Africa, we would like to thank both Olympic Solidarity for supporting and Benin's National Olympic Committee for hosting us all so well and creating such a positive experience for all involved.

Attended by 16 first- time coaches with varying degrees of experience but no end of enthusiasm, the project began and ended with invitational ‘learn to skate’ events for local kids to come and get a taster of all that is great about skateboarding.

With more than 30 youngsters getting involved at each event, the coaches were all put through their paces in terms of implementing the fundamental coaching skills learnt from the classroom to real-life situations.

We are glad to report that all 16 attendees successfully passed their CEAS Level 1 assessment and are out there now spreading the stoke of skateboarding in Benin and hopefully soon beyond, too.

CEAS’ 4- tier certification scheme is part of the WSK Development Strategy which aims to champion the growth and development of skateboarding through the inclusive availability of a vast array of education and support opportunities across the three key areas of: Community, Pathways and Governance. 

If you are a National Federation with a cohort of skateboard coaches who would like to begin their coaching journey- which may in time find them alongside the coaches from 50 or more countries already on the World Skateboarding Tour- contact us through your preferred channel in order to join Benin, Lithuania and Singapore on the path to entering into our internationally-recognised Skateboard Coach Accreditation system!