The FIMBA GB +50s women met at Countersthorpe Academy, Leicester over the weekend of 17th & 18th January 2026 for their first training camp of the new year.
Purpose of the Camp
Due to a number of player injuries, the weekend was designed to integrate players from the injury/reserve list and development squad alongside the current FIMBA GB +50s women’s squad, while continuing to develop team strategy and cohesion.
The coaching team for the weekend consisted of Head Coach Phil Gander, Assistant Coach Matt, and current Team Manager and former Head Coach, Mal Gander.
Saturday – Strategic Development
Saturday’s session was predominantly strategy-based. Following structured warm-up drills, the squad reviewed and applied the team’s fastbreak philosophy, exploring all available options and decision-making scenarios in transition.
Defensive strategies were then revisited, with players participating in full-court transition drills designed to reinforce defensive principles and sharpen reactions.
After a short break, the group was split. The Head Coach and Assistant Coach worked with the GB squad on offensive strategies and set plays against man-to-man defence, while Mal Gander led a parallel session with the remaining players. These offensive concepts were then applied effectively in controlled game situations.
Sunday – Zone Offence and Defence
Sunday’s session continued the strategic focus, concentrating on attacking and defending against zone defences. The session began with passing, shooting, and rebounding drills, followed by free-throw sets completed under fatigue to enhance concentration in pressure situations.
Players were then divided into “talls and smalls,” allowing targeted work on exploiting space created by defensive rotations, both on the perimeter and in the post. Zone offensive concepts were discussed, tested, and refined, with player input contributing positively to tactical adjustments.
The session concluded with competitive gameplay. Teams demonstrated strong tactical understanding and cohesion at both ends of the court, particularly in several end-of-game scenarios where both teams secured victories in the final seconds after coming from behind.
Coach Assessment
The coaching staff were very pleased with the level of engagement, effort, and professionalism shown throughout the weekend. The integration of new and returning players was successful and contributed positively to squad depth and future planning.
Next Training Session
The next training weekend will take place at the same venue on 14th–15th February and will be GB squad only, focusing on final preparation for upcoming tournaments.
Players currently rehabilitating from injury were wished a speedy recovery.
HC Phil Gander : “The level of commitment and effort across the weekend was excellent. The squad showed strong understanding of our principles at both ends of the court, and it was particularly pleasing to see experienced players supporting the integration of newer squad members. This bodes very well for the future of the +50s women’s FIMBA GB programme.”
