TTKF hosts National Youth Officials Programme

May 30, 2009 Sports

Young female aims for success

Kaley Bansrupan

In keeping with its policy with empowering young Karatekas, the Trinidad and Tobago Karate Federation Referees Council (TTKF-RC) will embark on a series of training programmes to produce young karate officials.
According to a release from the TTKF, it administers the foremost National Referee Licensing programme in the country. Rigorous certification standards set by TTKF ensure the highest calibre of TTKF Karate Tournaments recognised by practitioners throughout the country.
However, these licences are only available to Karatekas who are 18 years and over. This is the international requirement.

TTKF recognises the skills needed to be a proficient Official must begin much earlier, so the National Youth Officials Programme (NYOP) will begin in September 2009. The course curriculum will be the same as for senior referees with emphasis on National standards.
To be accepted to the programme, potential candidates must be 14-17 years and have at least two years of karate experience and hold the equivalent of 1st Degree brown belt (San Kyu). If attending school, they will be required to maintain a B average during the course and beyond. If not, candidates must have at least 4 CXC subjects, including Mathematics and English. They will be taking both written and practical exams before graduating.

They will be invited to witness the WUKO World Championships at Jean Pierre Complex in October. Presently TTKF’s only Youth Referee Official is Nicholas Seebaran.
However, that may change if a young lady with Guyanese roots gets her way. Kaley Bansrupan, who is a 1st degree black belt, is training to be a Youth Karate official in Orlando. She is maintaining an ‘A ‘ grade average in school.
Kaley’s parents are from Guyana and she has been practicing karate with Darryl Williams (Bassai Karate Dojo) since 2004.

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