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Reported by:
Mr. Kjell Gunnå,
DIBF Secretary General
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Report on Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF) Deaf coach clinic/development seminar in Nassau, Bahamas, 23 - 26 November 2005.
Background
More than two years ago the CISS/Deaflympic Secretary General, now President, Ms Donalda Ammons visited Bahamas and Puerto Rico in order to obtain information about deaf sports activities in these islands and to inform about foundation of Deaf Sports Organisations with Constitutions and Rules. Ms Donalda Ammons learned that there are many deaf basketball players in the islands and after the visits she informed the Deaf International Basketball Federation about this. I contacted Mr Marvin Finlayson in Bahamas and Mr Ricardo Mercader in Puerto Rico to find out more about their basketball activities. It was agreed that the DIBF should arrange a deaf coach clinic/development seminar in either Bahamas or Puerto Rico after same model like those arranged before in China, Argentina, Nigeria and Ukraine.
Postponement of clinic/seminar
However, due to organisational difficulties and environmental restraints such as hurricanes this clinic/seminar was postponed until now 24-27 November 2005 in Nassau, Bahamas. The clinic/seminar obtained economical contribution from the Bahamian Sports Department Authorities and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Conductors of the clinic/seminar were myself, DIBF Secretary General Kjell Gunnå and DIBF Authorised Instructor Ms Laura Edwards, former participant in the Argentinean deaf coach clinic/seminar 2003.
Mr Marvin Finlayson, were the co-ordinator of the clinic/seminar and was of great help in planning, booking lodging and venue for the clinic/seminar and contacting necessary people. I am very grateful for his and his assistant Ms Kim Kelly´s positive and creative help.
Unfortunately, the Puerto Rican participants never showed up. We lost contact with them and never received any confirmation about their participation. Altogether 20 deaf basketball people from the Bahamas showed up but not all of them took participation in all of the sessions. Only those participating in at least 80% of all sessions will receive a "Certification of Participation".
Location and participants
The training sessions of clinic/seminar took place at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium in Nassau with the following Bahamian participants:
Ms Shannon Armbrister, Ms Anya Davis, Ms Symon McClure, Ms Judy Miller, Mr Robert Albert, Mr Anthony Collie, Mr Emilien Delva, Mr Ricardo Farquharson, Mr Kenny Gentle, Mr Kamaria Johnson, Mr Dwayne Knowles, Mr DaVinci LeuBrunson, Mr Albert Major, Mr Mario McKenzie, Mr Lebrone Percentie and Mr Gerald Petit-Frere. Last day additionally four youngsters from a deaf school took part: Ms Kylie Capron, Ms Raquel Stuart, Mr Andre Humes and Mr Riyadh Johnsson.
The theoretical sessions took place in a class-room at the Grace Community Church which in benignity was provided to our disposal without fees.
Accommodation
I and Ms Laura Edwards were accommodated at the Nassau Beach Hotel which was very good and fully met with our requirements. Due to economical restrictions the participants had to stay at home during nights but could attend the clinic/seminar during days.
FIBA Sponsor
The FIBA, through Jan Berteling, President of the FIBA Council for Basketball for Persons with a Disability, sponsored this clinic/seminar by contribution with 75% of Ms Laura Edwards and my travels and 100% of our accommodation expenses and some other local expenses. The Bahamian Sports Department Authorities covered expenses for venue, transports and food for the participants and subvention of our travels. Without this economical contribution by the FIBA and the Bahamian Authorities I really doubt that this clinic/seminar would ever have been carried through at all.
Aims and goals with clinic/seminar
The aims and goals with the seminar/clinic were in the first hand to offer deaf basketball coaches and leaders fundamental knowledge of how lead a basketball group, make up plans for training and practice, to develop deaf basketball in their home-countries and to give them self-confidence to approach hearing basketball associations to seek co-operation and guidance for their continued development.
Training - lectures
There were training sessions everyday during the clinic/seminar between 10.00 - 12.00 hrs led by Ms Laura Edwards with assistance by me. Unfortunately it was not possible to have a group consisting of school youngsters helping us to show the clinic/seminar participants how to plan, construct and carry through programs for training sessions. The participants had to take part of the sessions in personal.
Between 14.00 - about 18.00 hrs everyday there were theoretical sessions led by me with assistance of Ms Laura Edwards. The lecture room was equipped with facilities enough to ensure a good review of the seminar content and smooth discussions.
Long and fruitful discussions
There were long, many and fruitful discussions about foundation of a Bahamian Deaf Sports/Basketball Federation with Constitution and Rules. Obviously the previous visit by Ms Donalda Ammons did not show them the need of this nor how to do with this. Now I think, or at least hope, that we will see such a federation within a year. The problem is that Mr Marvin Finlayson seems to be too alone working with this but hopefully we managed to raise enough enthusiasm for creating a Deaf Sports/Basketball Federation among the participants. We gave them a lot of hints of how to work.
Bahamian National Federation
I also had lots of discussions with Mr Finlayson about foundation of National Bahamian Federation of the Deaf to ensure better contacts and gain respect with the Bahamian Authorities towards deaf people. Right now there is no such an organisation to guard sign language in deaf schools, education of deaf people, interpreters, education in sign language of hearing parents to deaf children and more. We discussed foundation of the Federation with future strategies and I informed him about how he can work with this. But again he is too alone with this work and would need support by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).
Conclusion
The clinic/seminar was an extremely great success which completely met with the aims and goals of the clinic/seminar expressed above. The participants excelled in profound and engaged discussions showing much enthusiasm and willingness to learn from the lessons. Especially good discussions were about the DIBF and its work, relationships to hearing basketball organisations and different leadership roles, especially women and men leadership.
For the first time in deaf basketball clinics/seminars also doping-questions were brought up for discussion with many questions and remarks. There were many misunderstandings about the WADA and its work for a drug/doping free sport.
I am sure in future we will see the many of these participants in leading roles of deaf basketball in their home-country and with fully developed contacts with the hearing basketball organisations.
I would like to forward Ms Laura Edwards and my own deeply felt gratitude to Mr. Marvin Finlayson and Ms Kim Kelly for their wide and open hospitality. Also many thanks to Ms Lulumae Finlayson for her excellent cooking of Bahamian styled food for us and all participants. I gained 2kg in weight in only one week (sigh). For the transports we thank Mr Jeff Brown, father of a deaf child, who invaluably assisted us with bus-transports. Mr Laing, the Building Superintendent of the National Gym venue provided us with all resources and supplies we needed for the practical sessions.
Respectfully submitted,
Kjell Gunnå,
Secretary General DIBF
Report
