Basketball a medium for development

If you are between six and 16 years old, there is brilliant way to improve your position.

That is by attending the Sunshine Basketball Academy. It has as its motto: ‘Striving for excellence,’ and with Wayne Williams, Randolph ‘Sticky’ Williams, Oral Roberts, in the training department, there is every indication that the goals will be achieved. {{more}}

That panel is supported by younger trainers Adam Ambris and Heron Stay.

The Academy is based at the New Montrose Hard Court, and during this school holidays, over 100 youngsters will be exposed to the rudiments of basketball.

They had their first session last Tuesday and judging from the enthusiasm displayed, the Academy seems set to accomplish its mission.

Some of the goals include making basketball training standard in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, educating athletes academically by creating standards they must adhere to so

that they may continue to play.

The Academy aims to “improve the standard of basketball played in SVG,” and also “expose members to regional and international camps tournaments and other basketball opportunities.”

Wayne Williams outlined that the course will teach players how to win consistently, develop good work ethic, be well schooled in basic basketball technique and help players eliminate mental mistakes by staying focused.

Training sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 p.m. each day and the segments are carded to run for two weeks.

One participant is Jared John a second former at the St. Vincent Grammar School. He journeyed from his home village of Greggs for the training. He admitted that he had learnt a lot in the first session on Tuesday. For him, the Academy is proving its motto of providing “excellence.”

He was also impressed with the coaches.

Williams (Wayne) noted: “We are not only developing good citizens. We are developing the next generation of players, coaches, administrators, and officials to take the programme to the next level.”

He paid tribute to former national netballer Roxanne Irish for helping with a supply of basketballs, used in the exercise.