The shortfalls in the basketball coaching system outlined above were identified through a comprehensive research and consultation exercise that was led by an independent Basketball Development Model (BDM) coaching group, providing clear evidence of need for the development and enhancement of the Basketball England coach education pathway. As a result of this process, we were able to set clear objectives that we wanted to achieve via the project: 1. Facilitate the transfer of European coaching methods, development environments, techniques and philosophies into the Basketball England Coach Education Pathway. 2. Enhance the professional development and competences of coaches through high quality, certified European CPD opportunities and a consistent approach to recognition of learnings. 3. Embed the principle of national and cross-border cooperation and partnership working in order to establish a European Community of Coaching Practice and improve the quality of activities at all levels of the sport.
We applied for this project to help deliver the objectives set out in our 2018 Strategic Plan, and specifically the core Strategic Objective of ENHANCING OUR COACHING INFRASTRUCTURE. To support this aim, we have developed a 3-year “Coaching Game Plan” in which we identify a number of shortfalls within our current coaching system and practices that are limiting our ability to achieve our goals. In summary: - Our coaches lack the practical coaching knowledge required to develop players at the various stages of the player development pathway. - This is due, in a large part, to the absence of a clear philosophy within the sport in this country that dictates the basketball culture we want to promote and the type of players we are aiming to develop. - The ability to define and disseminate this culture and philosophy is limited by the lack of professional development opportunities available to our coaches at all levels. - There is no real coaching ‘community’ through which coaches can share ideas or best practice in order to challenge and improve coaching practices on an ongoing basis. We shaped the objectives of this project in order to address these shortfalls and ensure maximum possible impact across the coaching infrastructure.