I always tried to stay involved in the basketball world between seasons. Coaching provided me with an opportunity to not only mentor younger players, but also learn the game from a different perspective. I began to understand movements while not being physically present on the hardwood. Teaching the game has helped me translate skills I've learnt, and I want to produce versatile athletes who can perform in a multitude of game settings.
One of my favorite concepts from a Motor Learning class during my Kinesiology degree was the Stages of Learning, specifically transitioning from Cognitive, to Associative, to Autonomous phases. This highlights: 1. Simply learning the basic motor skills of a new movement 2. Understanding skills and conscious patterns 3. Performing without thought, and primarily off habit or instinct My goal is to be able to capture these concepts as a coach, and further the athletes' understanding of their actions. Below are descriptions of different types of coaching I have done. |
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING
Over the course of the summer in 2017, parents and young players began to contact me asking if I offered coaching or privatized skill sessions. By the summer of 2018, I had three clients I was coaching regularly.
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My first goal with individual work was to always provide the players with 'homework', and drills to be able to practice at home. I felt that this was ensuring I was giving the players the best service I could following the limited time. I loved to adapt and change lessons when players found tasks too easy or difficult; the most rewarding part of the job was seeing their success after numerous attempts, or watching them excel in future sessions.
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HEAD COACH - HIGH SCHOOL
Following my final year playing for UVIC, I was asked if I wanted to volunteer and be head coach for the St. Andrews Sabres High School.
Our senior team's range was from grade 8 to 12, and it was an incredible adventure. It was exciting implementing schemes to win and compete on the island. Travelling and being responsible for an entire group of kids was something new, and it was a thrill watching them compete all year. |
CAMPS
Since my first year with the Vikes in 2013, I have been coaching camps. Some camps consisted of creating drills and developing skills, while others I had a team for a weekend competing in a tournament.
I've coached camps of many ages. The youngest kids were the "Mini-Vikes" camps with 5-7 year-olds, where developing motor skills was the emphasis. The oldest groups I've been a part of were high-school and first year's in college, with the elite staff of Rex Sports. We prioritized game scenarios and reactions, preparing for various game-like scenarios. Previous Camps include: - Switzerland Christmas Camp - Rex Sports - Passion Sports - Vikes Summer Camps - Eli Pasquale Basketball Camps - Muggsy Bogues Toronto Raptors Camp - RTC Vikes Sessions - Beyond the Arc Training |
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