The squads have been selected from clinics held with each school in Palau and from the various ISL competitions through 2010.  The initial meeting for players and their parents was held on Thursday 13^th May where PBF President Frank Kyota spoke about the NDP and it vital role in the future development of basketball in Palau.  PBF Vice President and NBDO Topps Sungino also spoke to the gathering about Basketball Palau’s vision for the future and how this tied in with the goals of the PNOC.  Players received their CD of program information and their player’s folder, which is their “bible” for the program where they shall record all of the work that they complete. 

The NDP plans for various ages in each squad as a development pathway to future national team representation.  This year the National Youth Men’s and National Youth Women’s Squads will cater for ages 14-19, while next year with the addition of the Youth Development Squads (for ages 14-16), these National Squads will the  cater for ages 16-19. 

Also early next year the Junior Boys and Junior Girls Development Squads will be selected and these shall cater for ages 12-14 years. 

The squads named “National” are squads from which Palau teams shall be selected for regional and zone tournaments, while those named “Development” are for player development to the next level.

With no regional tournaments planned for 2010 and 2011, the program for this year is of low intensity and the main program will centre on a weeklong camp in June for each of these squads.  Further sessions will be held following the Micronesian Games in August. 

The program aims to teach individual and team skills to the players and also educate them on strength and fitness programs.  At practice sessions, players will be shown skills that they will be encouraged to practice and develop on their own at home.  In addition the players will be responsible for their own strength and fitness development through following a home program provided.

Coaches have been appointed to the Squads and comprise:

National Youth Women’s Head Coach              Ms Happy Fritz

National Youth Women’s Mentor Coach          Mr Logan Ngiriou

National Youth Men’s Head Coach                     Mr Ziske Asanuma

National Youth Men’s Squad Assistant Coach  Mr Jesse Sumor

National Youth Men’s Mentor Coach                 Mr Johnny Kintaro

 

 Happy Fritz is currently an Apprentice Coach with the National Women’s Squad and Logan is an Assistant Coach with the same squad.  Ziske is a former member of the National Men’s Team and will complete his Level 1 Coaching Course in June.  Jesse is a current Level 1 Coach and both Ziske and Jesse were the two top coaches in this year’s ISL for Elementary Boys.  Johnny is the current National Men’s Squad Coach and is eager to work with the younger players to develop them to the level required for the senior national teams. 

 

 Basketball Palau’s NDP continues to move forward toward its vision for the future.