July saw the Ivory Coast become the fifth nation to host World Skate’s (WSK) Skateboarding Coach Education and Accreditation System (CEAS) Level 1 course, supported by Olympic Solidarity and in conjunction with Ivory Coast Skate.

The CEAS has been established to implement minimum standards and develop best practice in skateboard coaching at four distinct levels. Twenty participants enrolled on the four day symposium held in Port Bouet, making this continental Africa’s third Level-1 coaching experience after Benin and Morocco also hosted their own.

World Skate’s Basile Danet and Chloe Bernard conducted the entire project, looking at best practice within the rudiments of grassroots-level skateboard coaching- and continually assessing attendees on their abilities to both retain and communicate the knowledge shared.

The CEAS’ 4- tier certification scheme is part of the broader 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. 

The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr Kouassi Andreas representing the Ministry of Sports, Ms Suzanne Wolber, Vice-President of the Ivorian National Olympic Committee, Mr George N'Goan and Ms Nadège Allangba, member and President of the CNO-CIV Communication Commission- and Mr Julien Konan, President of the National Federation.

Thirteen of the intake of twenty skateboarders were successful in attaining their Level 1coaching certification after the extremely well-received course concluded.

All attendees were involved in the delivery of a community level activity, providing free lessons and sharing equipment and prizes with over thirty participants, and news of the initiative was broadcast on national television as the skateboarding word was spread country-wide.

Another important developmental milestone achieved in creating both standards and structures for skateboarding, meaning the Ivory Coast now join Lithuania, Singapore, Benin and Morocco in establishing pathways both to national and internationally-recognised coaching opportunities for their skateboard educators of the future.

If you are a coach or national governing body and would like to do the same, get in touch!