Nishantha Kumarapperuma gets prestigious level 2 ASCA certification

by Leslie FERNANDO

SWIMMING: Nishantha Kumarapperuma, the Ladies College head coach of swimming and club captain of Kinross Swimming and Life Saving Club and also one of the SLASU swimming coaches, achieved great success, completing the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA) World Clinic at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. He has met all areas within the certification structure of achievement, education and experience of the American Swimming Coaches Association Level:2 International Age Group according to Bill Rose (President) and John Leonard (Executive Director) of ASCA.

This is the first time a Sri Lankan participated at an ASCA World Clinic and gained much knowledge. Nishantha is expected to exploit this learning for the benefit of the local swimmers as no Sri Lankan has coached at a much higher level than Nishantha.

The clinic was conducted by several past world class swimmers who excelled in World Swimming Meets and at Olympic Games. He successfully completed the requirements for Level:2 International Age Group certification. In addition he has been credited with 41 education units giving him a total of 41 lifetime units.

The organisers have informed him that education units can be earned in several ways. They have enclosed a list of home study courses offered by ASCA that will not only enhance his coaching expertise but will count toward education credits as well. Nishantha started swimming under late Rizvi Zain and has done well in mostly long distance events for his school - Carey College, and Kinross Swimming and Life Saving Club.

In swimming coaching, he was guided by former national swimmer and national coach E. G. A. Wilson. So Nishantha becomes the first of Wilson's pupils to achieve this accomplishment.Nishantha has attended several swimming coaching clinics conducted by FINA in Colombo and he has obtained level one and level two certificates.

He was also the swimming coach of Lyceum International School and also the Sports co-ordinator before taking up duties at Ladies College. Nishantha also has accompanied the Sri Lanka squad for inaugural South Asia Swimming and Waterpolo Championships in Pakistan in 2007 as a coach and was the head coach of Sri Lanka - Chennai Swimming dual held in Chennai. Vijitha Fernando, former President of SLASU and most knowledgeable swimming administrator and benefactor sponsored Nishantha's trip to the USA.