'FIBA Level 2 Coaching Certification' course conducted in Kerala for the first time ever!
Participants of Level 2 Coaching Certification course with U17 Kerala School Team players. Image credits: Kerala Basketball Association
Kadavanthra, 21st December 2016: The FIBA Level 2 Coaching Certification course was held for the very first time in Kerala and was led by FIBA Coaching Instructor Nelson Isley, at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kadavanthra. The course was conducted in association with the Basketball Federation of India, Kerala Basketball Association and with the support of the Regional Sports Centre, Kadavanthra. The seven day camp was just the second time that FIBA had conducted a course in Kerala. Fourteen coaches who previously had successfully completed the Level 1 Course were selected to attend this course, out of which, six coaches were from Kerala.
The fourteen participants selected included two international level players Ms. Meena Latha and Ms. Reneesa Begum from Southern Railway, Chennai; and Mr. M. M. Malhan - an instructor of NIS Patiaala (Punjab). The six coaches from Kerala who were selected were Mr. Prem Kumar V. M. - the coach who brought gold for Kerala at the recently concluded Youth National Championship at Haasan, Dr Prince K. Mattam - FIBA Commissioner; and Mr. Winny Bestine - the coach of Little Flower HS, Koratty.
The camp was well supported by the U17 boys team. It was a learning experience for these young guns who got their opportunity to work with Mr. Nelson Isley for five days. The camp was well assisted by two Level 3 coaches: Mr. Sebastian P. J. - the coach from Kerala State Sports Council; and Ms. Arnika Gujar - who came all the way from Pune to support this camp.
The camp also celebrated the 125th anniversary of basketball as Mr. Nelson cut the cake to mark the occasion on 21st December, 2016.
It is noted that as per FIBA guidelines starting in 2016 or 2017, no coach will be given a FIBA coaching license without at least passing the FIBA Level 2 Coaching Certification Course. The FIBA Coaching License is required to coach at the international level thereby making this course mandatory for coaches.
The role of Regional Sports Centre and the excellent facilities provided was a major factor for the success of the camp.
About Nelson Isley, FIBA Coaching Instructor
Nelson Isley is the Coaching Instructor for FIBA and has been associated with them since 2000. He is a highly experienced and accomplished FIBA certified Coaching Instructor with a B.S. in History and Physical Education from Louisiana State University. He has over 4 decades of coaching experience and conducting national development programs. Mr. Isley has taught FIBA coaching clinics in Iceland, Mozambique, Swaziland, Nicaragua, Guatamala, Haiti, Spain, Chile, Bolivia, England, Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Jamaica, Maldives, Canada among other countries. He was also appointed by FIBA to scout and prepare the final technical report on the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.