RSA - Expert helping hand for aspiring South African coaches

JOHANNESBURG – Young players in South Africa will soon begin reaping the rewards of some quality coaching after the completion of a hugely successful summer programme led by FIBA instructor Nelson Isley.
 
In an exciting joint venture with Basketball South Africa (BSA), aspiring basketball coaches were put through their paces and emerged with flying colours, a total of 35 of them gaining FIBA Module 1 accreditation and 10 achieving FIBA Module 2 accreditation.
 
Unsurprisingly, Isley was delighted with the outcome of his tour which, moving forward, will continue to present opportunities to coaches from a host of locations around South Africa, including Durban, Bloemfontein, Gauteng and also Phokeng where he worked with Royal Bafokeng Sport (RBS) and the NBA Basketball Development Programme.
 
“South Africa is a country with enormous basketball potential and hopefully we have made a positive contribution” reflected Isley.
 
“I think the cooperation of FIBA with the NBA on these kinds of programmes is really outstanding and just so important.
 
“Working with the RBS Junior NBA Development Coaches in Phokeng has been a truly satisfying experience. What the NBA and Royal Bafokeng Sport are doing here is incredible."
 
“The response I got from the local coaches to my tutoring was palpable," he added.
 
“They had their eyes intensely glued on me during the classroom and courtside sessions. Meanwhile the types of questions they asked and the passion with which they responded leaves me completely encouraged that this course was a massive success.”
 
The five-day Module 1 coaching course included two classroom days learning theoretical components, followed by two days of practical training on the basketball courts at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium and concluded with a final day of examination.

Isley is confident the fruits of his labour will be of significant benefit to players both present and in the future.
 
“This course, based on the 'Basketball for Young Players' book, stresses the responsibility coaches have and the concepts and strategies needed for the holistic development of young players who depend on them so much," he explained.
 
“Coaches who train young players must understand that it is very different from working with adult or professional players. Therefore, a specific training knowledge is needed in working with this important age group.”
 
The coaching programme was also heralded by Amadou Gallo Fall, the NBA Vice President for Development in Africa who is confident the initiative is an important step in further developing the game in the country
 
“This is the springboard needed to ingrain the fundamentals of the game and produce further growth in South Africa," he said.
 
“NBA Africa would like to thank both FIBA and Basketball South Africa for their support which can only mean our partnership in working together to develop the game here, will grow from strength to strength.”
 
Isley will return to South Africa later this year to conduct a follow-up course while there are also plans to visit the remaining provinces in South Africa.
 
FIBA