NSC unveils specialists slated for physiotherapy seminar

The upcoming physiotherapy seminar for coaches, featuring a panel of experienced local practitioners and sports medicine specialists, is being positioned as a major step toward strengthening athlete welfare and performance standards in Guyana.
The one-day programme, set for February 27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, will be led by physiotherapists Vanessa Wickham, Jana Edghill, Angelica Holder, Neil Barry, and Kelly Coonjah, with each presenter focusing on critical areas ranging from injury prevention to safe return-to-play protocols.
Organised by the National Sports Commission (NSC) in collaboration with the Physiotherapy Department of the Ministry of Health, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between clinical sports medicine and everyday coaching practice.
According to organisers, the seminar will cover a wide cross-section of practical topics, including injury prevention and load management, mechanisms of injury linked to coaching decisions, acute injury management, concussion recognition, heat illness prevention in tropical environments, hydration strategies, structured warm-up and cool-down protocols, and strength and conditioning for injury resilience.
Additional sessions will examine youth athlete considerations, injury tracking systems, and criteria-based return-to-play frameworks.
Wickham, who will address sports medicine team dynamics, injury patterns, and International Olympic Committee injury prevention protocols, is expected to set the foundation for understanding how coaching decisions influence athlete health outcomes.

Edghill will focus on acute injury response, concussion management, and heat-related illnesses, an especially relevant topic in Guyana’s climate, while Holder will emphasise the importance of proper warm-up and recovery strategies.
Barry’s presentation will centre on strength and conditioning principles for both performance and injury prevention, with Coonjah concluding with guidance on safe return-to-play systems and youth athlete development.
Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle described the seminar as a critical component of the NSC’s long-term vision to modernise sport development in Guyana, noting that athlete welfare must remain central to any performance ambitions.
“Our vision is clear… we want Guyanese athletes to perform at their highest level, but never at the expense of their health,” Ninvalle explained.
He added, “programmes like this ensure that coaches, who are often the first responders when injuries occur, are equipped with the right knowledge and tools to make informed decisions. That directly impacts athlete longevity, safety, and success.”
Ninvalle further stressed that the partnership with the Ministry of Health and its department headed by Dr Arianne Mangar represents an important shift toward a more integrated national sports system, where medical expertise is embedded into training environments rather than treated as an afterthought.
“This collaboration signals that sport and health must work hand in hand. When we invest in education for coaches, we are investing in the protection of athletes across every discipline, from grassroots to elite levels,” Ninvalle noted.
The NSC believes the seminar will also contribute to reducing injury incidence, preventing reinjury, and improving performance sustainability nationwide.
Beyond technical knowledge, the initiative reflects a broader national commitment to athlete-centred sport development.
By integrating evidence-based sports medicine principles into coaching culture, organisers hope to create safer sporting environments while strengthening referral systems between coaches, medical professionals, and institutions.
The seminar is open to coaches from all sporting disciplines, with the NSC encouraging broad participation as Guyana continues its push toward sporting excellence built on a foundation of athlete protection and welfare.