For the past month, Metro High Performance Coach, Sam Gruggen, has been travelling across Metropolitan New South Wales focusing on delivering our High Performance Programs and overseeing squad selections for both the U16s Metro Girls and Boys trials.
Gruggen has concentrated on administering his expertise in the progression of the Talented Athlete Program (TAP), Developing Athlete Program (DAP) and State Performance Program (SPP) each week. He implements and heads these programs in order to help progress the development of young basketball players and coaches within the Metro catchment area.
The Talented Athlete Program (TAP) is a single camp-based program that aims to expose selected athletes to the NSW/Australian Style of Play and concepts of play whilst also providing educational opportunities for athletes in the field of nutrition, injury prevention, and effective rehabilitation exercises. TAP is the first stage of identification for the athletes within NSW Metro.
The Developing Athlete Program (DAP) is run over two terms and from the athlete’s perspective, there is a strong focus on the identification, individual development and team based concepts with a game sense approach. DAP not only provides athletes with a platform into SPP but also gives coaches an opportunity to understand and coach the Basketball NSW Style of Play.
The State Performance Program is run over three terms and this is, currently, the most advanced junior athlete program within NSW Metro. It has a strong focus on individual development, conceptual improvement through small-sided games, and provides athletes with a holistic view of being a basketball player.
Gruggen has recently launched the AWP (Athlete Welfare Plan) which provides all SPP Metro athletes with regular individual feedback from all SPP practices and games, a strength and conditioning home program, an individualised home program and a training workload calendar that assesses their over wellbeing.
In conjunction with his commitments for TAP, DAP and SPP, Gruggen also regularly attends U18 Metro State team trainings for both Men and Women who are preparing for U18 Nationals in April. Over the past few weeks the U16 Boys and Girls have commenced their trials and preparation for Nationals, in which Gruggen has overseen.
Gruggen said he was impressed by the large number of participants that attended the U16’s trials during the last month and was pleased with the amount of impressive athletes that trialled.
“With such a large number of athletes trialling (90 girls and 100+ boys) the depth and talent is very impressive. The time and hard work that associations have committed to these athletes along with the implementation of DAP makes selecting these teams, both, challenging and exciting,” Gruggen said.
“Our new Head Coaches, Lauryn Curtin and Will Lopez, are eager to find out which athletes make the teams, so they can start their preparation and journey towards the U16 Nationals”.
The U16’s Championships will be played 6th-13th of July on the Sunshine Coast.
Final team lists will be announced within the next few weeks along with Country’s High Performance Coach, Curtis Sardi’s monthly recap.
2018 High Performance Calendar
Click on the link below to view the 2018 Metro High Performance Calendar
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