Thirty participants, including male and female coaches as well as a physiotherapist, are taking part in a five-day strength and conditioning course for youth basketball coaches at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bausher. The program, organized by the Oman Basketball Association (OBA), aims to enhance coaching skills by focusing on modern training methods tailored to basketball players' physical preparation.
The course, led by Amir Eid, an international instructor affiliated with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), comprises 25 hours of combined theoretical and practical instruction. Topics covered include strength and conditioning, training plan development, fitness assessments, and performance monitoring. Practical sessions are conducted across the gym, weights room, and basketball court to give participants hands-on experience in applying the concepts.
On the first day, participants concentrated on warm-up techniques and basketball-specific movement preparation. Tuesday’s sessions focused on cooling down and recovery strategies after training sessions and matches. Future parts of the program will address season planning and the design of strength and conditioning programs, culminating in fitness testing and performance evaluation.
Abu Bakr bin Ahmed al Jahwari, Vice-President of the Oman Basketball Association, described the initiative as part of the OBA’s ongoing commitment to coach development and emphasis on strengthening capabilities for working with younger players. He stressed that modern athlete preparation goes beyond technical and tactical training to include components such as strength, speed, agility, endurance, flexibility, recovery, and injury prevention, supported by continuous training load monitoring.
Al Jahwari noted the importance of scientifically informed training programs tailored to the physical and developmental needs of different age groups. He emphasized that working with youth athletes requires careful selection of exercises and precise determination of intensity, volume, and recovery times, while accounting for individual differences and physical abilities.
Highlighting the focus on youth coaching, al Jahwari said it is essential for training methods to adapt to the evolving requirements of growing players. He also pointed out that the presence of coaches and a physiotherapist among the participants reflects an increasing interest in integrating sports science into basketball training in Oman.