Basketball coach’s big chance
Going to the University of Delaware this week will be ‘‘next level stuff’’ for Deslea Wrathall.
The experienced basketball coach and current activities director at Aotea College has been awarded a scholarship through the Olympic Solidarity Fund and United States Olympic Committee.
Wrathall is one of eight basketball coaches from around the world – and the only woman – who will attend a coaching programme from October 12 till November 15.
The agenda includes performance analysis, athlete development, talent identification and four weeks of tagging along with a division 1 basketball team.
It’s the last part of the course that really has Wrathall buzzing.
‘‘The facilities are incredible, the coaching is top notch – this is a huge honour and opportunity for me and I’m so grateful,’’ she said.
‘‘I owe a lot to New Zealand Basketball for putting me forward, but I’m promising to pass what I learn on when I get home, to all levels from Porirua to Oceania. That’s going to be my legacy.’’
Wrathall is a former Junior Tall Blacks coach and at the moment oversees the New Zealand Maori women’s team.
Much of her time is taken up with basketball, which is her adopted sport – Wrathall won world championships in softball (1982) and touch rugby (1992). She has coached basketball for 30 years and has no plans to slow down, saying she is still learning her trade.
She said often in sport you manage people first and teach skills second.
‘‘With a lot of the clinics I run and teams I coach, it comes down to player development. Sport is a vehicle for life.
‘‘I’m looking at relationships like parent-coaches and teacher-coaches, which are so important to the grassroots of our game. Developing people gives you joy.’’
Wrathall said she owed huge thanks to Aotea College, which had enthusiastically supported her to attend the course.