BBF launches training program for coaches and players
The Belize Basketball Federation has embarked on an ambitious training program targeting four areas: discipline, increased competition, promoting and building the sport. It program is designed for players and coaches. This follows a summer camp in August in which the Federation partnered with UNICEF to provide training on the fundamentals of the sport. And this time around, the coaches are being trained to bring the level of discipline and the future of basketball in Belize to a world recognized standard. Since Monday, several coaches from schools, semi-pro teams and the national team converged at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel to attend the training. FIBA Expert, William Colon, says that the course is being held worldwide.
William Colon, FIBA Expert
“This is a program run by FIBA in all the continents and the idea is to prepare the coaches to be able to handle different problems like interaction with younger kids from mini basketball to level three that cover all the way up to nineteen years old. They have to go first through level one, get certificate here and next year come again for level two and level three and then they’ll be able to coach everywhere in FIBA.”
Duane Moody
“Do you feel that the tools that coaches use in this continent, do you find that it’s not up to par or the level that FIBA requires?”
William Colon
“Always you’re gonna have coaches that are more advanced than other ones, okay. There are some teachers over here right now that have no experience coaching, but they’ll learn the right way how to teach the basketball game. They have to get all the tools here and then they can go to their high schools, primary schools, elementary and then they’re gonna be able to teach the right way.”
Paul Thompson, President, Belize Basketball Federation
“Most of the people here are people from the district associations who are running or coordinating those youth programs. We also have participants from the elementary schools and high schools here to participate in this coaching program. This will aid and help in teaching basketball fundamentals the right way so that the children get the right fundamentals to learn basketball properly.”
At the completion of the course, the top coaches will receive FIBA certification that will allow them the opportunity to work in other pro-league or national teams.
