“My journey began when I moved into Doncaster Foyer. I applied for a talent bond so I could get a Basketball kit and sneakers to share my skills by coaching residents and in basket ball.
I then began to train the Doncaster Foyer residents for 6 weeks. The last week of training I organised was a match between staff and residents. I took them all through a couple of drills and had good feedback from the sessions from all who joined in.
After the 6 weeks were up a programme started called SMILE. I then had the privilege to meet Carl Miller who spoke to me about the coaching I had done and the coaching I was going to do. He then took me and the rest of the residents I had been working with to Doncaster College to do this program for 8 weeks.
Carl then showed me how he wanted me to coach and I learned a lot of exercises, drills, and warm ups not only that but how to present myself how to talk to my audience and deliver the sessions professionally. I made them fun and this got me the full attention from my participants. While we were at Doncaster College using their courts to practice I met their basketball team who had no coach. Carl and I spoke to them told them I could take them for coaching and they agreed. I got contact details said I would be in touch soon.
After the 8 weeks were up I then took the Foyer Residents and Community College team for coaching sessions. I passed on the skills and knowledge I had learned from Carl. The session consisted of ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting.
This led to an invite to Plymouth for a 2 day event along with the rest of the Foyer Basketball team. It was a celebration event for everyone who had done the SMILE programme, 4 Foyers attended.
The first day we arrived we went to the Plymouth Foyer to meet everybody had some food a quiz. Second day went to a sports hall where we gained our Level 1 Coaching Certificate in Basketball. It was great fun to meet new people. I learned a lot from this trip and the session we did.
On the last day we finished with a celebration event and award ceremony. Carl spoke to me and said I was going to get a SMILE bond. I was very excited and he told me to get a Community Basketball team together. He told me was proud of me for the hard work I had put in and said to me that he was going to leave me to get on with it.
When I got back home I knew what I had to do. I had a community team lined up ready to coach. I planned my sessions and told everyone when and where the session were. The Foyer team had other priorities and did not want to be involved so I concentrated on my community team and took them through the basics to start with.
After a couple of weeks went by I the drew up some Foyer basketball contracts for my players to see if they were committed to the programme and asked them to sign a form to agree to the terms and conditions of the coaching sessions.
I took them to the Deaf College basketball courts to train and the sessions were going great. My players were improving so much. We have no more funding to pay for the courts but I am looking at asking the player for a small contribution to pay for our own course and keep the sessions going
A couple of days ago Carl rang me out of the blue I was surprised said he had heard the hard work I had done. He told me he was proud of me and this meant so much to me. He said he proud of my work he then said you ready for your Level 2? Am I ready? I said yes, was very excited and couldn’t stop smiling. He talked to me about putting on a summer basketball camp on for the community said he would get some brochures done up and emailed to me. I am still very excited to set this event up and to gain my Level 2.
My journey has been very hard and rocky but Carl believed in me set me right. He never gave up on me never turned his back on me, gave me hope and strength to carry on. He said he will be always there for me if I needed to talk. I am happy to have him as a friend and a great mentor to me I thank Carl for this opportunity would be possible without Carl and the 2 boss ladies.”
The Foyer Federation Open Talent 