International Sport Connection 2012 Basketball Coach Exchange: Texas Highlights

After visiting Tennessee, the coaches landed in Lubbock, TX as their last stop on the 2012 International Sport Connection Basketball Coach Exchange Program.  Timothy Ayeet Odeke, Carol Nyafwono, Immaculate "Chocho" Nalwadda, and Nicholas Twesigye were selected for the current ISC tour, which is being guided by Dr. Jens Omli, the Director of the International Sport Connection.


In Lubbock, the Ugandan Basketball coaches were guided around the Texas Tech University campus by Lisa Berg, the ISC Assistant Director and Instructor at Texas Tech.  The delegation also met with Ambassador Tibor P. Nagy who is the Vice Provost for the International Affairs Department at Texas Tech University. 

 While on the Texas Tech Campus, the coaches got to work on their basketball skills next to American college students at Texas Tech University.  “We played in the Marsha Sharp 3v3 Classic Basketball tournament,” explains Coach Carol.  “We played as team ‘Uganda’ with Chocho, myself and Ashley (a TTU student).  We were the winners and Marsha Sharp congratulated us after the Tech Basketball Game.  The event showed love and care for us as visitors, seeing that Americans and Texas Tech Students organized this tournament.”


 

 

 The coaches and the International Sport Connection Program Overview was announced at half time of the TTU Women’s Basketball game against University of Missouri.  ISC Director, Jens Omli, got the opportunity to share the vision of the International Sport Connection and the power of sport diplomacy programs that are funded through the SportsUnited division of the U.S. State Department with multiple media outlets during the TTU Women’s Basketball game.  Carol noticed that the Lady Raider of Texas Tech “were communicating and they were opening up for other shooters.  They also were aggressive and worked hard at getting back for defense.  The communication was positive and they never discouraged their teammates and the coach encouraged her players and helped players trust themselves.”  Coaching lessons were abundant in their experiences throughout the United States. 

  

In last days of the 2012 ISC Basketball Coach Exchange, the coaches were mentored by Coach Sharp, went to watch the TTU Women’s Basketball in their training session, and spoke to undergraduate students at the Kinesiology and Athletic Society meeting.  The coaches made a presentation in Dr. Omli's Children in Sport Course while they were in Lubbock.  The Ugandan Delegation also visited the classroom of instructor Lisa Berg and spoke to students in the TTU Principles of Sport Coaching Course.  

 In addition, the delegation met the coaches of the Lubbock Christian Men’s Basketball team and worked on training principles and fundamentals with TTU Exercise and Sport Psychology professor Dr. Marc Lochbaum.

Cultural events were also a part of the Ugandan Coaches’ experience.  They took part in a Thanksgiving meal (even baking pumpkin pies) and country line dancing and 2-stepping.  Chocho explains that the delegation got a taste of the saying everything is bigger in Texas. “We danced the two-step cultural Texas dance and the people who we met were very welcoming and humble.  We noticed that the University was very big and so were the steaks we ate.  In Texas, we met new friends and attended classes on leadership and how to be great coaches.” 

 Coach Timothy sums up his hope for the ISC programs in Uganda.  “By the time the ISC is done with the participants, we will learn these life-long skills that will help us grow as individuals and as a country”.

For more information on the International Sports Connection please see the website, www.internationalsportconnection.org.  Thank you to the SportsUnited division of the US State Department for funding this incredible program promoting sports diplomacy.