BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The completion of the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC) Level 1 course at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS) is being seen as a major step in strengthening the country’s basketball pathway, with regional officials and participants praising both the standard and impact of the training.
FIBA Oceania representative Lai Puamau said Solomon Islands is the second country in the region to host the course, highlighting its significance for local coaching standards.
“The Solomon Islands Basketball Federation is the second national federation to host the FIBA Level 1 coaching course.
“In regards to the level, we believe that this course is a high-level coaching course,” Puamau said.
He said the certification is already being used in other countries as a benchmark for national team coaching.
“In Fiji, they’ve used this coaching course as an entry level to coach national teams,” he said.
Puamau said the exposure will help lift the standard of basketball locally, especially with a busy international calendar ahead.
“We believe that this type of coaching course will improve the standard of coaching in the Solomon Islands,” he said.
He pointed to upcoming FIBA events, including the Nations League 3×3 U23 and Under-15 tournaments, as opportunities for Solomon Islands to benefit from improved coaching structures.
Meanwhile, Puamau also praised the attitude of participants throughout the intensive week-long training.
“The course is not easy… what stood out to us was the attitude of the participants, their perseverance.
“There was some great leadership within the group and we look forward to seeing the outcome in the days to come,” he said.
Local coach Augustine Basia described the course as an eye-opener, particularly in understanding structured coaching methods.
“This coaching is very helpful. They have structured it in a way that connects everything together,” Basia said.
He said one of the key lessons was adapting coaching styles to different age groups.
“You have to approach them in a different way… not applying the same style to every group,” he said.
Basia added that the training has given him renewed motivation to develop young players.
“I’ll go back to the drawing board and try to help the smaller kids. Bring it back when we slack down,” he said.
Fijian coach Grace Tora highlighted the importance of long-term planning.
“It’s not just focusing on this practice or this season, but in three to five years what do I want to do,” Tora said.
She said she has already begun sharing knowledge with fellow coaches back home.
“I’ve already sent out the things I’ve learned and we’re going to plan out the season and start from the basics,” she said.
Vanuatu national men’s coach Sam Lewis echoed similar sentiments, stressing the value of fundamentals.
“It’s about going back to basics and teaching the fundamentals to the junior kids,” Lewis said.
Despite challenges such as limited facilities, he said the lessons learned will still be applied.
“It doesn’t stop us from taking these teachings and teaching kids at the grassroots level,” he said.
Lewis summed up the week with a simple analogy.
“We know the ingredients, but sometimes not how to put the recipe together. This week we learned how to bake the cake,” he said.
The WABC Level 1 Coaching Course was held over one week at SINIS, bringing together coaches from Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
The course was facilitated by a FIBA instructor and supported through the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) and international partners.
It is only the second time the FIBA-certified Level 1 course has been delivered in the Oceania region, providing a pathway for coaches to progress into national and international basketball programs.
Photo credit: Richard Menanopo
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