Twelve coaches from the Pacific nations have gathered in Churchill to undertake the first edition of a new coaching education course.

Guam, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Tahiti will all be participating in ‘The Tournament Coach’.

Each of the selected coaches has been identified as a potential senior coach for the Men’s or Women’s Pacific Games team.

The concept is the brainchild of International President of the World Association of Basketball Coaches, Patrick Hunt, and developed by Basketball Australia and FIBA Oceania.

The course focuses on the differences between a tournament (usually seven to ten days) compared to an extended league season.

Issues such as match recovery, daily planning, rest, scouting, preparing a game plan and adjusting training programs must be addressed for a successful campaign.

These strategies concerning time restraints of the tournament and organisational tactics are among some of the topics covered, along with the need for athletes to eat, rest, train and compete in a busy schedule.

Former Opals assistant coach and course deliverer, Peter Lonergan, said that lack of preparation is an occupational hazard for a tournament coach.

 ‘We are used to short preparation times, it’s more that would never feel you have enough time for your team to be ready’.

Lonergan, Patrick Hunt, and former FIBA Oceania Developmental Manager Regan Kama will all deliver what will certainly help the coaches of Pacific Island teams make the most of their preparation in future championships.

 By Laura Mock – The Reporters Academy