Macfarlane to discuss drills to improve fundamentals for youth

Gold Coast (Australia) - The FIBA Oceania Webinar series resumes on Tuesday (April 14) and Basketball Victoria coach Gail Macfarlane will discuss  "small-sided games to build fundamental skills" focused on youth basketball.

Macfarlane, who visited Fiji last year as a Marty Handson Coaching Scholarship awardee was able to coach the grassroots level in Suva as part of her coaching tour.

"For young players, the challenge is often how do I teach the fundamental skills I want to see during gameplay but make it fun so the players enjoy training and enjoy their workout," said Macfarlane.

"I believe teaching present game-like drills that work on fundamental skills but seem like you are having fun working out is a challenge for coaches. she added.

The Australian coach emphasized that with youth basketball, it was important to make the game fun for the kids while still being able to teach the drills effectively.

"The drills I plan to share will cover footwork, passing, shooting, rebounding, offense and defense," Macfarlane said. "Hopefully coaches will see how I try to layer and extend drills to make them easier or harder. And most importantly how to make basketball training fun for all."

Macfarlane, a Student Wellbeing Co-ordinator at Traralgon College is grateful for the opportunity to share her knowledge and hoped that the basketball community will stay strong during these tough times.

"I’d like to thank FIBA for giving me this opportunity to share with the basketball community some of my favorite things," she said.

The "Small-sided games to build fundamental skills" webinar presentation by Gail Macfarlane is part of a series of online webinars organized by FIBA in the Gold Coast.

FIBA