2020 South Island Coaches Residential Workshop

The Mainland Eagles Academy in partnership with Basketball New Zealand are excited to announce the inaugural 2020 South Island Coaches Residential Workshop in Christchurch from 4 – 7 December.

This workshop aims to connect coaches from all around the South Island and provide an environment to observe, assist, reflect with a focus on best practice in the high school & representative New Zealand basketball context. It will run in conjunction with the Mainland Eagles Summer Camp allowing for various coach development opportunities including on-court observation of national style of play, coach delivery & coaching reflective practice.

Natu Taufale, Coach Development Director for Basketball New Zealand says he’s thrilled to partner with the Mainland Eagles in the delivery of the South Island Coaches Residential Workshop.

“In a year where there’s been unprecedented challenges, the opportunity to bring coaches together from associations in the South Island for four days of learning was not to be missed. As a pilot initiative we have a view of delivering similar coach residential workshops to other regions in future. Upskilling our coaching communities, and in turn providing the athletes/players with a meaningful and quality experience.”

Taufale and Caleb Harrison (Mainland Eagles General Manager), who both are FIBA WABC International Coach Instructors, will lead and facilitate the workshop along with the support of BBNZ Coach Developers, Sport Canterbury Facilitators, High Performance Sport New Zealand staff & other professional coaches.

An important vehicle for the learning opportunities during the coaches residential workshop is the Mainland Eagles Summer Camp which sees the top high school athletes from around the South Island attend a four-day camp. The camp will be led by former Australian NBL/Boomers assistant coach Mick Downer, Tall Blacks assistant coach Mike Fitchett and various other high-level coaches from around the South Island.  The workshop coaches will observe on-court athlete sessions built around the National Style of Play which will lead to reflection, discussion & applied learning to each individual coaches development plan.  The coaches will also each have the opportunity to coach on the floor, specific individual skills based on the FIBA WABC Curriculum & BBNZ Curriculums, which will allow for opportunities for peer observation, discussion & feedback.

Mainland Eagles General Manager, Caleb Harrison says he’s please the coaches workshop is running in conjunction with the Eagles camp.

“It allows for coach and athlete development to occur in a simultaneously and integrated manner. An outcome for the coach participants will be to develop a coach development plan for their coaching journey which will include follow up tasks utilising the Basketball New Zealand Sports Tutor and Hudl video analysis platforms.  The opportunity for not only coach development during the workshop but also on-going professional development post the workshop is essential for continual coaching growth.”

With over 40 coaches registered for the workshop and 60+ athletes for the Eagles Camp it is going to be a unique opportunity for both coach and athlete development.