POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
Warwick Allen and his wife Judy have been working in Yap, Federated States of Micronesia, for some time now, and just last weekend conducted the first ever sporting venture for the tiny Neighboring Islands, just east of Yap.
The Ulithi Islands are a lagoon of four major islands - Faalalop, Fadrai, Mogmog and Asor. The main island, Faalalop, is only three quarters of a mile long, the exact length of the airstrip. It has a population of 200 and this is where the Sports Clinic was conducted.
The program was most successful with the emphasis not just on providing coaching and administrative services. It was on teaching people how to provide these services themselves. Between 32 and 48 people attended the sessions, held over 3 days.
A basketball clinic was used as a template for running any sports clinic. A Talent Identification Program with standardised testing was also introduced.
As a result of the basketball clinics, 3 Neighboring Island players have been invited to join the Yap basketball squad in training for the U22 Micronesian Basketball Tournament.
Warwick Allen said "The Yapese tutors Theo Thinifel and Victor Bamog gave excellent clinics, virtually unassisted. Victor was particularly impressive with the referee clinic. They will both return to the islands for a follow up visit".
Also included in the program were sessions on basketball scoring, conducted by Judy Allen.
The result of the planning session was a commitment to run a five team tournament (four islands plus the high school) on an annual basis commencing Spring Break 2005. An annual coaching clinic, as well as the Basketball AGM, will be linked to the tournament, and the venue will be rotated among the four islands.
The Yap Sports Council will be providing 50 gallons of fuel for the transport boats as well as personnel for the tournament. A far cry from the situation in Australia.
Following this program the local Neighboring Islands Sports Officer Rufas will repeat the clinics at Woleai and Satawol, using as his assistants the new coaches from Falalop, Fadrai, Mogmog and Asor. After that the new assistants will repeat similar clinics on their own island.
What a great weekend!
