The Tribune

CURTIS Pride said he has no objection to members of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Coaches speaking out on matters concerning the association and their performances as coaches.

Pride, the president of the association, was clarifying the BAAC’s position on coach Shaun Miller’s comments published in the Tribune on February 18 in the article titled “Bahamas all set to soar at World Indoors.”

In this article, coach Miller disclosed that BAAC made a recommendation to the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations for him and Peter Pratt to be accepted as the two coaches of the World Indoors team.

“As president, I wish all to know that the BAAC has no concerns about coach Miller speaking openly about the recommendations made,” Pride said.

“The recommendations of coaches for every national team expected to travel during the 2014 season was made to the BAAA and was never a secret. It is a result of a fair and transparent process by the Coaches Association to proactively select, name, prepare, and support the coaches who the association believes will best represent it this year. The names were presented to the BAAA as the recommendations of BAAC. It is now incumbent on the federation to complete the process in the same manner as BAAC - fairly, openly and proactively.”

While Miller was not empowered by BAAC to speak publicly on the recommendations made, there was no reason to restrict him or anyone for speaking publicly about these recommendations.

“Like coach Miller, the BAAC also hopes that the BAAA will respect and support the recommendations of BAAC,” Pride said.

“This will demonstrate the federation’s willingness and commitment to collaborate with BAAC as its major affiliate, and to help empower BAAC towards fulfilling its mandate to govern athletic coaching in the Bahamas.

“As to the two coaches recommended for World Indoors, we are confident that both are deserving and worthy of their nomination. Anyone who disagrees with our recommendations should be prepared to provide justification against the two named and for their proposed replacements.

“As we continue to work to improve the coaching culture and environment towards elevating the performance of our coaches and athletes, we ask all coaches and all stakeholders in our sport to consider the importance of BAAC, and help make the process of positive change easier.”

Pride says the BAAC invites anyone who wants to learn more about the role of the BAAC in Bahamian athletics, or contribute to the work of their association, to contact them at baac242@gmail.com or via www.facebook.com/BAAC242.