Saint Lucian basketball coaches have completed an intensive week-long course led by respected FIBA instructor Nelson Isley. The American trainer, who was drafted into the NBA in 1971, visited the island in December to deliver the programme, which focused on the latest coaching techniques.
Isley explained that the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) revised its certification format about four years ago, moving away from a largely theoretical approach. Under the new system, developed in collaboration with the World Association of Coaches, participants undergo six days of structured training.
The programme requires coaches to sit written tests and, more importantly, to demonstrate their skills on the court.
Isley stressed that the emphasis is now on practical application, ensuring that coaches can prove their ability to lead and instruct players effectively.
“So we give them a topic; it could be a basic fundamental like passing, dribbling, and we observe them to determine whether they can teach this skill,” he explained. “Then we have a set of criteria where we evaluate them, and when it’s over, after six days, we have a certification process that we declare them competent or not yet competent. So the ones that are competent, they get put on the database in Geneva as official FIBA WABC level one coaches.”
The course also included coaches from Dominica and Guyana. Isley expressed the desire to see greater interest from persons interested in growing the game, as the on-court presentations and team tactics the participants went through during their time at the Beausejour Gymnasium could prove invaluable.
The instructor told St. Lucia Times he was pleasantly surprised with the level of performance, and he looked forward to the impact this course would have going forward.
“It benefits tremendously,” Isley insisted. “I understand the Caribbean, where the culture is very important, with the cricket, football, or soccer, track and field, because most of your great athletes … are involved in cricket and track and field. Also, you have netball [which] is very similar, but netball is not really an Olympic sport yet.
“And so what FIBA thought is the only way to raise the standard of play in each country is to raise the standard of the people teaching the game… Hopefully, these coaches will be able to work with kids that are 9-12 years old, and improve them as players and also as people.”
(TF)
