Twenty-four coaches have been certified as National Community Level 1 Basketball Coaches through a joint programme hosted by the National Basketball Federation of Trinidad and Tobago (NBFTT) and the Basketball Coaches Association of T&T (BCATT). Certificates were presented during a ceremony held on Thursday evening at the Conference Room of the National Racquet Centre, Orange Grove, Tacarigua.
The certification course, conducted from June 21-23, exposed participants to several core coaching modules, including: The Foundation of Coaching & The Role of the Coach, Daily Practice Planning & Practice Organisation, Drills–Theory and Practice, Planning & Periodisation, and Safeguarding.
Following the initial three-day programme, coaches continued their development through monthly sessions in September and October, led by coach Obadiah “Buddah” Asher, former WNBA player and national women’s captain Pietra Gay, and Maurisa Gibson-Bailey, a specialist in Sports and Exercise Science and Performance Analysis.
Addressing the newly certified coaches, NBFTT vice president of Technical Support & Training, Tristan Benjamin, an educator and long-standing figure in the sport, highlighted five key pillars for coaching success. He noted that the certification marks the beginning of their coaching journey and a significant opportunity to influence the next generation of basketball players.
He said, “I’ve been in this sport for 26 years, as a player, teacher, national team manager, and now VP of Technical & Training,” Benjamin said. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: Coaching is leadership, and leadership is influential.”
Benjamin outlined the following principles:
Put People First: “Before you coach skills, you coach human beings. Athletes must feel seen, respected, and valued. If they trust you, they will give you their heart, their effort, and their discipline.”
Preparation Is Everything: “A good coach shows up. A great coach shows up prepared. Plan your sessions, know your objectives, and be intentional. Excellence is never an accident.”
Safeguard Your Players: “Safeguarding is not paperwork — it is your responsibility. Keep your athletes safe, supported, and emotionally secure. A protected player becomes a confident player.”
Keep Learning: “This Level 1 certificate is the starting line, not the finish line. Continue to study, attend workshops, observe other coaches, and keep asking questions. The best coaches in the world are students first.”
Lead With Energy and Example: “Players mirror their coach’s attitude. Show passion, bring discipline, and lead with purpose.”
Benjamin encouraged the coaches to recognise their influence: “Every drill you run, every word you speak, every session you lead can change a young person’s life. This country needs good coaches — and even more, it needs inspired ones.”
Asher, who holds a coaching diploma from Semmelweis University in Hungary and a qualification from UWI’s Art and Science of Coaching programme, also addressed the group. With some 30 years of coaching experience, Asher reminded participants that learning is a continuous process.
“Coaching is not about the number of certificates you hold,” he said. “It is about how well you can learn, teach, and communicate the finer points that make skills sharper and athletes more effective.”
All 24 coaches successfully passed a written examination administered on the final day of the course. They will continue to receive training through additional seminars and workshops in preparation for the next stage of certification—the FIBA Level 1 Programme.
The certified coaches, who are from schools, clubs, and community teams, include: Quincy Mc Fee, Christopher Nathaniel John, Maurice Francis, Jason Erskine, Keston Thomas, Chaz Suite, Ajani Rechais, Rawle Strong, Kievan Bacquain, Leslie-Ann Bacquain, Edwin St Louis, Jaaron Lovell, Akim Wills, Emmanuel Cournand, Denzil Skeete, Derek Boucaud, Keanu Lee-Young, Jason Best, Jerrell Doorbal, Jody Sprott, Kester Brereton, Jacinda Best, Ricardo Fournillier and Jaden Roberts.
