2013 ISC Ugandan Coach Exchange Tour: Visit to the Historic East Coast

Do you know what is so special about Springfield, Massachusetts?  It is where the sport of basketball was invented in 1891 and it is one of the East Coast locations of the 2013 ISC Ugandan Basketball Coach Exchange Tour.

After enriching adventures in Texas, Oklahoma, California, and Arkansas, the four Ugandan coaches finally arrived on the East Coast to enjoy their last stop before heading back to Uganda.  Sam Obol, Albert Aciko, Janet Nakkazi, and Sylvia Twesigye felt the chill of snow for the first time during their tour of historic Boston.  After taking time in Bean Town, they traveled to Springfield, Massachusetts to visit the Basketball Hall of Fame and Springfield College.

At the Basketball Hall of Fame, Sam, Albert, Janet, and Sylvia toured exhibits explaining the history of basketball and spent time reflecting on how the sport that was created over 100 years ago has developed.  Uganda is still developing the game of basketball and the dream of the Ugandan coaches is to develop basketball from the grassroots in their own country through educating coaches, organizing leagues, and growing the love for the game of basketball in children.

The Ugandan coaches stopped by Springfield College to visit with faculty and students.  The delegation shot around with players on the Springfield basketball team and met families that are fans of the projects they are building back in Uganda.

Sam, Albert, Janet, and Sylvia will bring their experiences and new knowledge back to Uganda to help develop the game and influence their communities.  Each Ugandan basketball coach who was a part of this delegation will be local instructors alongside American basketball coaches and sport science experts for the 2013 International Sport Connection Coach Training that will take place in Lira, Northern Uganda this May.

Thank you to SportsUnited, a division of the U.S. State Department for funding this International Sport Connection Cultural Exchange.  For more information, visit www.internationalsportconnection.org.

2013 ISC Ugandan Basketball Coach Exchange Tour: Razorbacks & Soul Food

University of Arkansas in Fayetteville  was another stop on the 2013 ISC Coach Exchange.  Sam Obol, Albert Aciko, Janet Nakkazi, and Sylvia Twesigye were welcomed by Natalie Trotter, the assistant athletic trainer for the Razorback’s women’s basketball team.  Natalie Trotter was a member of the 2012 delegation that went to Uganda and conducted a national basketball coach training in May.  She taught injury prevention, nutrition, and first aid to the Ugandan coaches.

The weekend in Fayetteville left the coaches “full” of experiences.  There was a mix of Southern comfort food and stadium-filled fun for the Ugandan coaches.  The Ugandan delegation attended a sold-out men’s basketball game and saw the energy of a community supporting their team.  They met the women’s basketball team and saw them practice and play.

On their final day in Arkansas, the coaches took a tour of the athletic facilities and explored the techniques that athletic trainers use in the United States to keep athletes healthy.

“Arkansas was a quiet place and it was fun to see cows and the farms. I won’t forget the food from the south.  The people we met in Arkansas and in all our stops on this tour were so welcoming.  We’ve seen that hospitality is something that Americans and Ugandans both share in this world.” –Coach Janet Nakkazi

Thank you to SportsUnited, a division of the U.S. State Department for funding this International Sport Connection Cultural Exchange.  For more information, visit www.internationalsportconnection.org.

2013 ISC Ugandan Basketball Coach Exchange: California Sun and Westmont

No one should visit California without getting to walk on the beaches and feel the Pacific waves on their toes.  The Ugandan basketball coaches didn’t miss out on these adventures either.  As part of the 2013 Ugandan Basketball Coach Cultural Exchange, the International Sport Connection introduced the coaches to experiences unique to the United States.  

 

From the historic Santa Monica Pier with its rollercosters to the Mission’s beautiful scenery to tasting seafood in Malibu, Sam Obol, Albert Aciko, Janet Nakkazi, and Sylvia Twesigye experienced life in California.

After the cultural adventures, the ISC Ugandan Coaches also stopped by Westmont College to meet staff and students as well as shoot around with the basketball teams on campus.

Thank you to SportsUnited, a division of the U.S. State Department for funding this International Sport Connection Cultural Exchange.  For more information, visit www.internationalsportconnection.org.

2013 ISC Ugandan Basketball Coach Exchange: UCLA and Wooden Academy

The 2013 International Sport Connection Ugandan Coach Exchange Delegation traveled to California to get to know one of the most legendary coaches in history.  John Wooden’s coaching legacy lives on at UCLA and the four Ugandan Coaches had the opportunity to visit the place where his championships came to life. The ISC Coaches also had a chance to share their experiences from coaching and playing basketball with the UCLA community.

Sam Obol, Albert Aciko, Janet Nakkazi, and Sylvia Twesigye visited with the UCLA women’s and men’s basketball teams, spoke to staff, students, and coaches at UCLA, and they received a tour of the Wooden Academy.

UCLA was the ideal place to learn about leadership and the history of greatness in basketball.  The coaches watched the men’s basketball team’s training and observed how the practices were organized and conducted.  They cheered on the men’s and women’s teams during home games and they even met Miss USA, who was a UCLA alumni.

The tour of the sunny California campus included visiting coaching offices and talking with staff about the influence of John Wooden on their athletic department.  Former USA Olympian Lisa Fernandez took time out of her day to listen to the stories of the Ugandan coaches and share her experiences of being a champion in her sport.  

UCLA has helped Wooden’s legacy live on through the Wooden Academy.  The Ugandan coaches watched a documentary on Wooden, listened to speeches from administrators at UCLA, and they learned about his Pyramid of Success.  Wooden’s leadership principles have impacted UCLA and now they are influencing coaches and athletes across the globe in Uganda.

 

Thank you to SportsUnited, a division of the U.S. State Department for funding this International Sport Connection Cultural Exchange.  For more information, visit www.internationalsportconnection.org.