Serbian instructor, Igor Kovacevic will be undertaking a series of coaching clinics for basketball coaches in Botswana from August 20th to September 14th. This is all part of a move by the Botswana Basketball Association (BBA’s) drive to develop the game across the country.
Although they initially had a target of enrolling 500 coaches for the coaching clinic, they ended up enrolling only 170 teachers due to budgetary constraints.
Explaining why her association invited the instructor to come to Botswana, BBA Technical Director Dorothy Okatch had this to say, “BBA is constantly trying to find ways of improving the sports code in the country at all levels. BBA has realised that one aspect which has been neglected for some years is offering the coaches an opportunity to learn and be updated with coaching styles and techniques that will make a positive impact.”
Okatch further explained that they have secured the services of the instructor through the assistance of International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
The coaching clinics will focus on coaches who are working with children at a developmental level so that they can impart knowledge on them while young. She also observed that if young athletes are given the wrong instructions it will have negative impact on the future of the national teams hence the need to bring in an expert to guide the coaches.
“We worked with Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) to assist in identifying teachers who are currently coaching teams in their schools and the non teaching staff who are volunteering their time to come to the schools and work with the children. The basketball coordinator for primary schools identified teachers who work with children,” said Okatch.
The course runs from the 20th to 25th August and will be held in Lobatse. Kovacevic will then go to Francistown for a week long training from the 27th to the 1st September before heading to Serowe from the 3rd to 8th September. His final destination will be Gaborone where he will run a course from the 9th to 14th September.
