The second open trials camp for the FIMBA GB +40/45 Women took place in Leicester, with a host of new and returning faces.
Following the success of the first trials camp in September, this camp allowed the coaches a second chance to look at the new prospects and complete their individual skills and feedback analysis. It was also a chance to try different groupings and see how the squad interacted with each other on and off the court.
Continuing the theme from September, the trial was split over the weekend with Saturday concentrating on offence and Sunday more on the defence. The coaching team was expanded for the session with Vice Captain Michelle Fellerdale and Point Guard Laura Bull (both rehabbing injuries) still making the long journey to training to assist in growing and supporting the squad. After a brief introduction and explanation of the theme for the day by Coach Harrison, the squad got to work on some footwork and dribbling drills before the infamous “Stations” were re-introduced. The skills and fitness based stations not only show the core skills and stamina of the players, but also how they react to tiredness and interact as a team. After an elongated water break, Assistant Coach Lauder took over the reigns, working on some shooting drills allowing Coach Harrison the chance to study their shot mechanics and footwork before the basics of the offensive set were worked on.
The first day concluded with some 5 minute games, where the two “new” coaches squared off against each other with their respective teams and the learnings from the day were put into action.
Day 2 saw the return to the court of Point Guard Jojo Glowa for the final time before her knee surgery later in the month and ensured she got her wish of “running one more time” with her teammates. We want to thank her and wish her all the very best for the operation, we know she will come back stronger.
The focus for Sunday turned to defence, one of the strengths of the team, and working on how to react to the offence put in place the day before as well as bringing insight from the European Championships and how to stop the ball. From the basics of position and movement, all the way up to off the ball, help and pressure defence, the intensity that has come to be expected from the squad was clearly visible. After a section on boxing out, rebounding and off the ball positioning, the players then had the chance to put what they had learned over the past two days in to a game situation, with coaching points throughout from all 4 coaches. The games were a step up from Saturday in terms of physicality, IQ and accuracy leaving the coaches pleased with the progress over the two days.
Trial sessions are always interesting as you are mixing players that are used to the coaches and previous ethos of the team, and understand the levels needed to compete internationally, together with fresh skills and mindsets of players who are either new to Masters Basketballs, or to the GB setup. I am happy to say, this weekend has given Coach Harrison and I a difficult job as we start to whittle the squad down to the final teams for next year’s tournaments.
Coach Lauder
The initial squad selection will be made over the coming days, before the first closed squad training session in November, where the intensity level and expectations will be raised even more as the coaching team start to bring their players physically and mentally to the high levels needed to represent Great Britain on the international stage.