This Friday Basketball New Zealand will host its second annual National Coaches Conference. The invitation only event will see some of New Zealand’s most experienced coaches sharing knowledge, discussing good-practice and learning from international industry leaders.

Basketball New Zealand High Performance Manager, Leonard King, says the Conference is designed to provide coaches with valuable insight into the national teams’ style of play, and to unify coaching practices to improve the playing experience for our elite junior and senior players. 

“This year we have attracted highly sought-after Canadian Coach Chantal Vallee to be the Key Note Speaker. Coach Vallee is a five-time national championship winning head coach from the University of Windsor. Most recently she was appointed Head Coach and General Manager for the Hamilton Honey Badgers, which is part of the Canadian Men’s National League team.  Coach Vallee will deliver the conference key note speech on Building a Culture of Inspiration and Excellence within the New Zealand Basketball coaching community.  Other topics will include improving your coach practice, closing the gap between good and great coaches, and connecting to the performance pathway.

“The conference will also feature a variety of styles of teaching including player demonstration, lectures, panel discussions, on court basketball, and coaching techniques,” says King.

With Basketball New Zealand and the regional associations working to meet the long-term growth and demand for basketball in this country, Coach King says coach-development activities such as this annual conference is critical for the continued growth of the game. 

“Basketball numbers are exploding through the roof and it is vital that we have an army of qualified and knowledgeable coaches ready to teach the game to those that want to play.  This is one of very few opportunities where New Zealand coaches can gather, network, listen to internationally respected coaches, and challenge the way we are currently teaching the game.” 

Last year’s inaugural Basketball New Zealand Coaches Conference was a great success. King says most coaches who attended said it was the first time they had been in a room with other coaches from basketball to discuss the future of the game.  

“Coaches supporting other coaches is what this is about. Having a community of coaches who are engaged, who genuinely care about the athletes and who are committed to moving in the same direction as our National teams is a best case scenario,” says King.

Basketball New Zealand is committed to the investment coaches; we provide real usable strategies to help coaches with their practice. 

The 2.5 day conference to be held on 18-20 January at the Millennium Institute of Sport & Health. 

Coaches invited (though not all will be attending): Aaron Young, Aik Ho, Alex Stojkovic, Ben Sheat, Brent Matehaere, Darron Larsen, Dave MacKay, George Robinson, Greg Brockbank, Jayden Smith , Jeff Green, Justine Reed, Leanne Walker, Leyton Haddleton, Lindsay Tait, Lori McDaniel, Mark Bell, Matt Lacey, Mel Downer, Miles Pearce, Morgan Maskell, Natalie Visger, Rachel Gwerder, Shay Haira, Tania Hunter, Vincent Minjares, Chantal Vallee, Anthony Corban, Bronwen Davidson, David Bublitz, Frances Tilly, Gavin Briggs, Jody Cameron, Judd Flavell, Mike Fitchett, Paul Henare, Tim McTamney, Trent Adam, Zico Coronel, Kaea Sampson, Todd Marshall, Dave Langrell.