Over the next two months, basketball players will get a chance to improve their fundamentals in a coaching programme hosted by George Shepherd.
A former national basketball coach, Shepherd, said the aim of the initiative was to improve the individual skills of each player that joined.
“It is for youngsters who want to develop their game,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how old they are or what their skill level is currently – beginners, advanced, whatever. I’m looking to develop all aspects of their game.”
The programme, which starts as soon as players signal interest, will be three times a week varying from Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays depending on the schedule of participants.
However sessions, which are $50 per week, are limited to four people in order to provide coaching tailored to each individual. The programme will take place at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium in Wildey, St Michael, and Briar Hall Pavilion and Resource Centre, Briar Hall, Christ Church
Last year, Shepherd held sessions to help develop coaches at the National Sports Council and the Department of Youth.
He is responsible for producing talent such as Ianthum Alleyne, Cosmo Edwards, Victor Payne, Charles “Silky” Gill, Roger Branch and Anton Lovell. At the national level he coached teams from 1975 to 1994, his finest achievement with them coming as assistant coach when the Barbados men’s team triumphed at the CARICOM Championships in Guyana.
He also spent 32 years at the National Sports Council before retiring in 2012 and was Secretary General of the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association in 2011. (JC)