Basketball coaching clinic concludes

The Olympic Solidarity Basketball Coaching Clinic, hosted by the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation, came to its conclusion on Friday night at the Montrose Hard Court. The closing included the presentation of certificates to the 25 participants, and addresses by Coach Tom Newell, course facilitator and general secretary Sabrina Mitchell, as well as First Vice President John Rawlins, and newly elected officers of the Coaches Association, Fitzgerald “Junior” Sutton, and Alrick Wright. {{more}}

The clinic, which ran from March 13 to 24, was extremely well received by all of the coach participants, who labeled it enjoyable, informative and inspirational. Seen by the Federation as a resounding success, it fostered an important development in basketball on the national level, with the establishment of the SVG Basketball Coaches Association, SVGBCA, mandated to serve for two years, with a draft charter already in place. The coaches elected from amongst themselves an Executive committee to nurture and advance the development of coaches, provide a support group for these individuals, and to ensure that all basketball coaches throughout this country maintain a common and consistent model.

During the final session, Coach Newell expressed his firm belief in the individuals who took part in the clinic to chart the way forward for our young coaches for the benefit of the entire basketball fraternity. Mitchell stated that the course went far beyond the expectations of the Federation, as the profound positive impact of Coach Tom was not anticipated.

Coach Sutton pledged to give his very best effort from the heart to make the changes necessary to implement the model learned from Coach Newell, and thanked the coaches for their faith in his leadership. Coach Wright also thanked his peers for their vote of confidence and expressed his desire for a partnership of coaches, players, officials and the Federation, working together to develop basketball for everyone.