THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) is raising the stakes for local athletes, implementing tougher qualifying standards and expanded training programs to move beyond mere participation on the world stage.
NAAZ president Tendai Tagara confirmed the association will soon publish its own stringent qualifying criteria for the African Senior Championships, scheduled for May in Ghana.
While the African Athletics Confederation (CAA) provides baseline standards, Tagara noted that Zimbabwe is deliberately "raising the bar" to ensure its representatives are podium-ready.
"It is the norm that a country sets its own standards," Tagara told Standardsport on Friday.
"We have set higher standards for the African Senior Championships because we want our athletes to aim for the finals, not just the starting blocks."
This performance-first philosophy extends to the youth level as well.
Similar measures have been implemented for junior athletes ahead of the World Junior Championships in the United States this August.
By tightening the entry requirements, NAAZ hopes to foster a culture of excellence where Zimbabwean athletes are competitive contenders in global finals.
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Beyond the track, NAAZ is focusing on the technical backbone of the sport. This month, the association is hosting international courses for coaches, technical officials, and starters, led by World Athletics-appointed instructors.
Tagara highlighted the growing importance of specialised officiating, particularly for starters. "Starters are now a completely independent area where officials can grow and become international-level specialists," he said.
To ensure a pipeline of talent, provincial and district coaching clinics are currently preparing local mentors for international certification. Zimbabwe currently boasts a pass rate of over 90% in these certifications, a standard Tagara is determined to maintain.
In a move to benefit the broader Zimbabwean sporting community, Tagara also announced a new conditioning course available to coaches across all disciplines, including football, netball, and swimming.
"Athletics is the backbone of any training or workout," Tagara explained. "This conditioning course is designed to help coaches in various sports improve the foundational athleticism of their players."
Despite the push for international professionalisation, Tagara reaffirmed the association’s commitment to grassroots development, noting that school coaches will remain at the forefront of the junior national teams. "They are the ones who produce the athletes; their role is vital to our success," he concluded.
