ISC 2012 Basketball Coach Training: Post 8

ISC 2012 Basketball Coach Training: Final Thoughts and Impact of ISC Program

 From 2010-2011, the International Sport Connection provided soccer coach training for 383 participants in Uganda, including 174 women, thereby increasing the number of certified female coaches in Uganda by over 2000%. In 2012 and 2013, the ISC will similarly help equip men and women throughout Uganda with the skills needed to use basketball as a way to care for the needs of children and youth in their communities, while developing the basketball talent of children throughout Uganda.

The International Sport Connection (ISC) Basketball Coach Training Program, funded by the American people, was held May 6^th -12^th at Lira Integrated School in Lira, Uganda. The ISC Basketball Coach Training Program was conducted in collaboration with the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA), and was the largest sport coach training program implemented in East Africa, with 207 adults (108 men, 99 women) competing the training. This program provided international-standard on-court technical and tactical training for 207 men and women from 52 districts throughout Uganda, as well as classroom sessions that prepared participants to effectively teach, train, manage, and mentor children and youth. The ISC program also provided a basketball learning experience for 418 children (208 boys, 210 girls). The ISC training staff was composed of expert coaches and sport scientists from the United States, including Director Jens Omli, Assistant Director Lisa Berg, as well as Megan Christensen, Marshall Jamieson, Paul

Nixon, Nettie Respondek, Natalie Trotter, and former WNBA player MaeOla Bolton.

The International Sport Connection (ISC) Basketball Coach Training is funded by the SportsUnited Division of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and is conducted under the guidance of the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy in Kampala.  After the training, the Lira Community praised SportUnited for funding the program that will bring up basketball in their community and throughout the country.

Before leaving the country, ISC Director Dr. Jens Omli, ISC Assistant Director Lisa Berg, Lira Integrated School Director Beatrice Ayuru, and Uganda Ministry of Sports officials held a press conference in Kampala, Uganda to share the success and impact of the 2012 ISC Basketball Coach Training Program.  The International Sport Connection in partnership with SportsUnited, a division of the U.S. Department of State, conducted this first year of two year development sport diplomacy program.