Young athletes informed about etiquette

Clearly not comfortable a youngster is trying to give a presentation in front of a group of other youngsters, while these react in a way typical for their teenage age group: they giggle. This is clearly something different from the intensive training schedule they follow these days in preparation of the Kingdom games 2009 (25-31 July – Aruba).

Mr. Tom Josefa, trains the young athletes in aspects having to do with etiquette and conduct. NAOC hired him to do this after last Kingdom Games (Holland, 2007) etiquette training sessions proofed to be a success. Besides presentation, attention is given to hygiene, how to dress properly, attitude, table manners and social behaviorism.

Mr. Josefa stresses upon the importance of the ability to at least hold a short speech, for an athlete who represents his country abroad: ‘When you win a gold medal, you should also be able to show how self-confident you are. It is important to give a good impression by behaving yourself in a good manner. A good result is not the only important thing, when you don’t even know that one should be quiet during a speech. It’s not done to speak while eating and you can’t comb your hair while at the table with others. Most important is that you should behave correctly during all circumstances’, explains Mr. Josefa.

And then it’s time for the part that the youngsters are most interested in: How to behave during a date in a restaurant. ‘To make a good impression, one should not only help the lady to sit down at the table, but it is also important to give attention to whether she is comfortable’, demonstrates expert Josefa while gallantly moving the girls chair. The interested faces of both girls and boys show that at least this part of the training will surely be used by them.

NAOC organizes these type of courses for the youth since 2007. The aim is to educate them not only in sports, but also on a social level.