With the season just days away, Bulldogs Head Coach Arron MacDonald has finalised the coaching line-up for the season.
Junior Teams Officer Sebastian Benford will Head Coach the Under 15 and Under 17's teams, who will compete in the Anglian Basketball Alliance - with the teams playing games on alternating months in Wymondham, whilst still pursuing other friendly competition in the gaps between games.
"We thought it was really important to give this group regular games" said Coach Benford, "and the ABA gives us the best opportunity to get everyone some competition and court-time to aid in their development."
Coach Benford will be assisted by Coach Sam Howard with both teams. Howard is a long-time club volunteer who has held his coaching license for some time - and will be mentored by Coach Benford throughout the season.
Our youngest age group, the Under 13's will be headed-up by Coach Rob Fisher as he looks to teach the fundamentals of the game to our "rookies", we'll also be seeking a number of friendly matches, tournaments, etc. to build game experience.
"We really hoped to have a competition to enter these guys into." said Coach Fisher, "Unfortunately, although we're an Under 13's team, a lot of our players are only 10 or 11 years old, and having only started up a couple of weeks ago, we've not yet built-up enough of a core of players to enter into competition. We'll continue to look for opportunities for them though, and keep working to grow this group - which includes our players and parents becoming advocates for our programme, and spreading the word to school friends."
In the Senior section, Coach Arron MacDonald will head up the Senior First Team again this season, as they compete in Suffolk Division One and the Cup competitions, however, he has implemented new leadership for the two Senior Reserve teams.
"We have a number of very promising coaches at the club - and if I'm coaching three teams, there's nowhere for them to work on their craft, and no opportunity for me to mentor them. This isn't a step we'd be taking if I didn't know these guys were ready for the opportunity." said Coach MacDonald.
Coaches Seb Benford and Rob Fisher will work together to cover a number of the Suffolk Reserve side games, with Coach MacDonald stepping-in for home league matches.
Meanwhile, Coach Glenn Collins will run the Cambridgeshire Team in all competitions.
"We appreciate that everyone's a volunteer, and we can't expect anyone to drop everything at work or home to coach basketball - so we need to work better as a coaching staff across the club to ensure that everyone's adequately prepared, supported and mentored." said Coach MacDonald
"A lot of work has been done this summer, with the implementation of our Junior Coaching Curriculum, and working to really understand the 'DNA' of a Bulldogs player, giving our coaches an opportunity to coach and compete within a supportive environment is simply the next step in the development and growth of our fantastic club." - Coach MacDonald
If you would be interested in becoming a coach or volunteer at Bury St. Edmunds Basketball Club, please get in touch.
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