Coaches Training in Jeddah

Over the past year, GSP Reps in Saudi Arabia have worked alongside local partner organization, Team Up, and the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah to coordinate and implement a grant project.  The “West Saudi Youth Sport Empowerment Initiative” focused on empowerment, leadership training, and the holistic development of Saudi youth and coaches. Through three separate phases, young male and female coaches participated in GSP’s Transformational Coaching workshop and received Level 1 Certification.  

The first phase took place over two weekends in February with local male participants from diverse sport backgrounds. The success of the first phase made way for a unique co-ed training and youth camp for Phase II. The inclusive nature of Phase II generated great interest and a positive atmosphere to learn from one another. Diversity and inclusion became core values for the group. In June, the all-female Phase III exhibited the highest level of interest and saw ten women receive their Level 1 certificates.  

“We had a great time working with coaches who are all very passionate about their sports. It was exciting to see them learn to see their players in a more holistic way and to put into practice coaching strategies that incorporated character values.” - Rebecca Pack, GSP Representative

American GSP experts were brought in to partner with local reps in the young coaches’ development and introduce new sports including kickball, ultimate frisbee, and pickleball. Each phase included engaging classroom sessions as well as a multi-sport youth camp for coaches to apply their new values and skills. The multi-sport camp split the youth into four teams to learn new sports and practice core values they were being taught. Points could be earned both for athletic excellence and exhibiting good character throughout the camp. 

“This program was better than I expected. The training course was different from other training courses in the field of training and sports that focus on the theoretical side only and give theoretical information without a soul, but this course gave me methods to become a different trainee and how to interact with the trainees more as a human being, from giving them information and exercise only.” – Phase II Participant

GSP Reps in Jeddah look forward to seeing the developing coaches apply their skills in various sport fields and perhaps participate in future Level 2 workshops!

GSP Malaysia Leads Ultimate Clinic for Teachers

GSP Malaysia continues to provide leadership for Ultimate Frisbee clinics in partnership with the Malaysian Ministry of Education. In June, the departments of Sport, Co-Curriculum and the Arts sent teachers from each state to learn the basics of Ultimate in a train-the-trainers workshop.

The participating teachers arrived with varying experience levels and all departed with knowledge of the basics. Each of these teachers now returns to their respective states to train other teachers and students in the basics of Ultimate.

“I feel this workshop builds on the progress that was made last year. The Ministry of Education is committed to growing the sport of Ultimate as a sport for all under their 1 Student, 1 Sport program.” –Derrick Wilkerson, GSP Representative and Ultimate Trainer

The training used MyDisc Malaysia’s certified “MyDisc 3.0”, which will be the official disc for upcoming state-specific clinics. Learn more about MyDisc’s products on their website.

New and returning participants are together becoming quick ambassadors for the sport in Malaysia. “Frisbee is not only a sport, but Spirit of the Game. Nothing can beat the spirit of Frisbee’s game.” Mr. Pang, returning clinic participant

New Baseball Stadium in Pakistan

GSP Representatives in Pakistan are pleased to introduce the Steve DeVoss Baseball Stadium in Lahore.

”The Steve DeVoss Stadium will be used to further the development and growth of local Pakistanis in their knowledge of the game I love. Through local, national, and international competitions, I hope to be able to use this field as ground zero for expanding the baseball program in South Asia, raising up leaders to make a change.” –Brian Furches, GSP Representative and Baseball Coach

The team broke ground in October 2022 and began playing on the field in July 2023. GSP Pakistan Representatives will host a four-day baseball training for the stadium’s scheduled completion in March 2024. The training will be offered for men and women, including local and international athletes, with a tournament style competition at the end of the training.

GSP Welcomes Stadio Football Academy

Stadio Football Academy (SFA) is GSP’s newest initiative in South Asia. We are happy to see Stadio bring excellent coaching and training to the football community in Mumbai.

The SFA team is passionate about providing world-class football trainings to develop young players that understand and play the game to their highest potential.  “We provide comprehensive trainings that aim not only to develop skills in football but also in life, to grow as athletes and human beings.” – GSP Rep and SFA Director, Joel Ballejos

SFA is an official Argentinos Juniors Training Center. Argentinos Juniors provides excellent athlete development all over the world, with over 80 training and scouting academies in Argentina, all over South America, Italy and now in Asia.  

In the inaugural season of training at SFA, participation and morale are exceeding expectations.  “I never enjoyed coaching kids as much as I did with Stadio. We believe this is because of the culture we are creating in the organization, a culture of positivity and excellence. Kids are kids everywhere but the way we teach them and the atmosphere inside the organization helps us to be better coaches.” – Stadio Football Coach Adhit

In August, SFA will host an internal tournament in partnership with the Mumbai Argentine Consulate. Follow the tournament and new developments at the academy on their Instagram.

GSP Saudi Arabia Football Intern

We join Global Sports Partners Intern Lianna Gates in celebrating a successful football-focused internship with GSP Saudi Arabia. Gates is an asset to the GSP team both on and off the pitch.  

At Team Up for Sports (Jeddah, KSA), Lianna’s coaching skills were used to facilitate trainings for the 5–10-year-old age group over the past year. She coached alongside of Academy Director and GSP Representative, Travis Stark, as well as other new coaches looking to develop their talents. From skills training to fun gifts from the athletes, Gates returns to her home country with a new appreciation for coaching young athletes.

“This past year of coaching has motivated me to gather more resources and further my education in the field so that I continue to grow as a coach and facilitate players’ growth” – GSP & Team Up Intern Lianna Gates

Lianna also trained this season with Al-Shabab Women’s Football Club in Jeddah (formerly known as the Storm). Al-Shabab WFC participated in the Inaugural season of the Saudi Women’s Premier League, finishing in 3rd place. Gates enjoyed contributing her experience playing university football in the USA as well as learning to play with ladies in KSA’s growing atmosphere of women’s sport.

“It was a privilege and I learned so much from the experience of playing football with the women on my team in Jeddah. Some of my favorite memories were funny language exchanges in my broken Arabic and our intrasquad scrimmages where we pushed each other to become better footballers.” – Lianna Gates

Lianna is looking forward to rejoining the GSP team in Jeddah later this year and and contributing to the development of young athletes and coaches over the coming years. 

GSP Malaysia Continues to Grow

GSP Malaysia continues to grow and increase interest in the sport of ultimate frisbee. Local GSP Representatives are seeing momentum through leading clinics, training teachers, and providing booths at special sport events.

In October, GSP Malaysia was privileged to promote ultimate frisbee with the Ministry of Education at the National Sports Day event. The team connected with newly interested students and teachers over the sport. The booth also sold over 100 of GSP’s original discs with MyDisc Malaysia.

“The National Sports Day was a great time for connecting, networking, and sharing a love for ultimate. We look forward to continuing many of these exciting connections and sharing the Spirit of the Game across Malaysia and beyond.” – GSP Malaysia General Manager, Nathan Scott

GSP Malaysia provides professional training through ultimate-specific clinics both virtually and in-person. Though the virtual clinics began in response to the challenges of 2020, they have been a key addition to the professional services provided by the team. The clinics have sparked positive interest as demand and opportunity grow.

The GSP team is excited to see momentum building among other experts and athletes in the local ultimate frisbee community. In the new year, the GSP team will focus on developing new partnerships, additional clinics, and training more experts to contribute to the growth of ultimate frisbee in Malaysia.

GSP Rep Wins 1st Place in Crossfit Competition

GSP Representative, Rebecca Pack, recently competed in the annual Elfit Crossfit Championship in Cairo, Egypt. Pack won first place in her group.

“It was a great weekend - not because of the outcome or the workouts, but because I got to meet and participate with some amazing people!” - GSP Representative Rebecca Pack. Congratulations to Rebecca and the Crossfit community on a great event!

Pack is a GSP Representative coaching and facilitating projects in Jeddah, KSA. GSP Saudi Arabia recognizes the value of the Crossfit community locally and the ground it provides to meet and compete alongside of traditional sport.

Special thanks to Elfit Crossfit for the photos.

GSP attends the 2022 Mediterranean Games

GSP International President Dennis Chamberlain attended the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran, Algeria. The President was accompanied by GSP Project Coordinator for Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, Marc Neie.

“Our GSP Staff was privileged to observe so many athletes and coaches representing their countries with passion and honor,” said GSP International President Dennis Chamberlain. “The conversations that our GSP Staff held with NOC and Federation leaders open up doors for future projects and programs.”

GSP Staff enjoyed meetings and observing the high level of sportsmanship and athleticism shown throughout the events. GSP looks forward to working alongside the clients to develop sport and help achieve their goals.

Special thanks to Algeria 3x3 and Jeux Méditerranéens Oran 2022 for the photos.

GSP Oman Lifeguard Trainings

GSP Oman provides crucial water safety and lifeguard certification training in and around the capital city, Muscat. Offered year-round through a partnership with the American Red Cross, these courses certify participants in life-saving skills for two years. GSP Oman Representative, Michael Mitchell, offers the four-day training events often to lifeguards from local beaches, schools, hotels, and private venues.

“At the beginning of a training, I usually hear the same comments from participants. They are nervous about ‘what happens if this particular water emergency happens on my watch? Will I make the right decision?”. By the end of the course, the participants are tailoring their own Emergency Action Plans (EAP) to the possible emergencies of their own location. They begin creating their own scenarios and testing and timing their reaction times. They almost always say they feel much more confident after our lifeguarding course. One lifeguard said, “Now that I completed the course, I feel way more confidence that I will make the right decisions in the event of an emergency scenario." – GSP Oman Lifeguard Instructor, Michael Mitchell

The trainings were initially brought to Oman as local schools saw a need for training and employed former GSP representative, Butch Pierce, in providing the course. Through Pierce and Mitchell’s trainings, they have worked with lifeguards from 20+ countries! The combination of cultures provides a rich learning environment as one local participant commented “You genuinely care about every individual. You made sure everyone understood the material. You had no problem with repeating things. I found it difficult to understand some words but you explained them to me clearly. Overall I gained excellent information, it was easy to understand, and you provided relatable examples to help us comprehend the information.” – Yahia, Omani Lifeguard & Course Participant

GSP exists to transform lives through sport. We are thrilled to see how the partnership of this certification supports excellence in sport and the transforming of lives as lifeguards gain skills and confidence. Mitchell and the team enjoy getting to know the participants and seeing them develop the confidence they need to rescue someone from a life-threatening situation. GSP continues to develop professional trainings that support traditional sport endeavors in Oman and elsewhere.

GSP Türkiye Basketball Coach

GSP Türkiye Representative, Bryan Spears, is celebrating a productive year of coaching with the team at SB Sportif Tofaş Basketbol Okullar in Izmir. The academy has 65 players over 4 different age groups as well as year-round programming that continues through the Summer. Bryan has the ongoing privilege of seeing young athletes develop at Izmir Tofaş since first partnering with the academy 3 years ago.  

Coach Bryan sees young athletes grow in skills at practice and in life experience outside the gym as players join the club from various circumstances. “I can think of one player who came to us in a bit of an unhealthy situation who has really grown in his conditioning, skills, and confidence in interactions with the other players.” Coach Bryan has assisted his players in seeking holistic improvement through the sport of basketball.  

“Coaching allows me to weekly invest in the next generation of Turkish athletes. The environment of the academy at a local private school connects me to an excellent community of teachers and parents who are also deeply invested in the development of these kids.” – Bryan Spears, GSP Turkey Representative 

Player development is possible through consistent practice over time. Resuming regular scheduling post-covid has produced visible benefits as Coach Bryan has invested in the players for a full season. It is a team effort. Coach Bryan works alongside an excellent team with Koç Selçuk Bilgiç, Koç Doğuş Bilgiç, and Koç Kamilcan Inan. GSP Türkiye looks forward to seeing these athletes continue to develop and succeed!  

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GSP Tunis Winter Basketball

This past winter, the GSP Tunis Basketball Program had a successful season of training participants for life, both on and off the court. Sessions focused on the physical and mental development of youth athletes to grow their interest in basketball alongside of new skills.

The program was initially planned for a 7-week run, which successfully saw 86 participants grow in their skills.  The success and excitement of those 7 weeks prompted the GSP Tunis staff to extend the season an additional 10 weeks. This group of young athletes is coached by the GSP Tunis full-time staff as well as an invaluable team of 7 local coaches.

“The success of the program was evident in how many parents were asking us to continue after the initial 7 weeks. We often hear how pleased they are with the organization, the fun atmosphere, and the character-building elements of the program. We believe these elements bring the participants back and encourage them to tell their friends.” – GSP Tunis Representative, Jared Morgan

The staff was encouraged by positive improvements in the skills of the players. Noticeable progress came from drills focusing on shooting and spacing. The GSP Tunis team looks forward to building on these skills as well as seeing young athletes enjoy the game of basketball in future camps and programs. Summer Basketball Camp kicks off on Monday in Tunis and the GSP team looks forward to seeing many familiar faces!

New GSP Initiative in Morocco

GSP has launched a new initiative in Morocco! Over the past year, GSP Representative Austin Simpson has been laying the groundwork to start Momentum Sports. Built on the core message of “Train, Experience, Belong”, Momentum Sports will provide several exciting opportunities. Both Moroccan and international clients can look forward to First Aid Training, Adventure Runs, and Team Building activities. Keep an eye out for new developments in Morocco!

“El Jadida is the perfect place for sport development with a lot of potential. It is a very active city that is growing quickly. It’s been a great experience working with new local friends and business affiliates to get Momentum Sports off the ground. Great things lay ahead for Momentum Sports and Global Sports Partners in El Jadida and in Morocco.” - Austin Simpson, Momentum Sports

Team Up Basketball Academy

GSP Representative Travis Stark and Team Up KSA are celebrating the first anniversary of Team Up Basketball Academy. Over the past ten years, GSP has partnered and celebrated milestones with Team Up.

“The highlight of the academy for me is that coaching doesn't feel like work, but rather a chance to invest and impact kids through the vehicle of sports. I love seeing the joy and determination of kids learning and competing in a sports environment.” – Travis Stark, GSP Representative & Team Up Academy Director

The successful premiere season has been full of growth. The Basketball Academy developed two teams for boys and girls, ages 6-13, with 30 total players. Parents have witnessed growth as well, noting the positive development in their children both on and off the court.  

“I have heard from several parents that their kids are eager to get to the court early for practice since they love basketball and enjoy practicing by themselves. Learning a sport should be fun!” – Travis Stark, GSP Representative

The Football Academy continues to grow, as well. As the Academy Director, Travis coaches alongside two Team Up assistants, including GSP Intern Lianna Gates. Lianna has brought new energy to the football academy, while also playing for a local women’s football club.  

Lianna’s club recently played an exhibition match against the U13 boys she helps coach at Team Up. “It has been cool to see some of the boys have a mentality shift in regards to women playing football since I started working with the team. After losing the match against the women's team, one of the players came up and told me how well we played. Seeing young boys learn life lessons through football has been an honor for me and I am hoping to see some young girls out there, too, in the coming months!" – GSP Intern & Team Up Coach, Lianna Gates  

Training sessions focus on excellence in the young athletes’ lives both on and off the pitch. Each training session begins by going over the coach’s rules and discussing a specific word for the week. That word is specifically chosen for personal improvement and character growth. Many of the kids especially love this part of practice.  

As Team Up looks to the future, it is seeking a larger venue to conduct more sports programs and academy focuses. GSP looks forward to continuing its partnership with Team Up academies as they foster the personal and physical growth of young athletes.   

GSP Malaysia Leads Ultimate Training for Ministry of Education

GSP Malaysia taught the sport of ultimate frisbee to teachers and Ministry of Education officers recently as part of an effort to strengthen the partnership between the two groups. In addition, they aided in the creation of a Training for Trainers module for all secondary schools in Malaysia.

Some program highlights include the translation of rules and ultimate guidelines into the local language, Bahasa Malaysia; and the plan for State education departments to host clinics that increase participation among school students throughout Malaysia.

A success story is highlighted by the experience of participating officers from the ministry. The ministry team was enthusiastic and loved the sport, but they had never competed in a real game. They decided to join a tournament, losing the first game … and by a wide margin, too. Even though the loss could have been devastating to some, the opponent exemplified the Spirit of the Game, which is a defining characteristic of Ultimate. They offered advice to the ministry team to understand how to improve, promoting sportsmanship and collaboration. In response to this impacting example, the officers’ team finished third place at the tournament.

GSP Malaysia Regional Catalyst, Derrick Wilkerson, was excited to see how this impact was immediately made, “It is great to see how the Spirit of the Game sets ultimate apart from other sports. We all learned from the training, but it is our team at GSP that will take much more back with us by watching the participants engage with the game of Ultimate and embrace the overwhelming benefits.”

This is a continuation of ongoing training with all 16 states and territories of Malaysia represented at the workshop, over 40 total participants, while ten of those were previously trained by the GSP team. This continuation will go a long way to establish lasting roots of ultimate in Malaysia.

Wilkerson said, “We are very excited about what the future holds, and the partnership is strong with the Ministry. It is important for us to continue moving forward and get more opportunities out there for students around the country.”

Upcoming work could possibly include more collaboration as The Ministry of Education desires to host a similar workshop in 2023 to assess the development of the sport in secondary schools around the country.

GSP Meets with Cuban Basketball Federation

Pictured here are GSP Founder Steve DeVoss and GSP Basketball Representative Bruce Sider with Leonardo Pérez, known as “Mágia Negra” (“Black Magic”), who played professionally and on the Cuba Selection Team for 18 years; then coached the Cuban National Team for 12 years.  Now as Vice President of the Cuban Basketball Federation, Leonardo Pérez continues to provide leadership to Cuban Basketball development. 

Bruce and Leonardo first met when competing against each other in international basketball tournaments in the 1980s.

Friendship and respect last a lifetime in Sport. 

GSP Tunis: Level I Youth Basketball Coaches Training

KSA Women's Basketball Coaches Training Program

Global Sports Partners was awarded a public diplomacy grant as part of the U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia PAS Small Grants Program in the summer of 2021. In partnership with Jeddah United, The University of Business and Technology, and the Saudi Arabian Basketball Federation, GSP trained 10 Saudi female basketball coaches over the course of the five-month program, which recently concluded with their official coaching certification ceremony.

GSP Baseball Coach Leads Trials for 73rd Punjab Games

In preparation for the upcoming 73rd Punjab Games in Lahore, GSP Baseball coach Brian Furches led the Divisional Baseball Trials with Pakistan Federation Baseball. More than 30,000 athletes from across the province are expected to compete in the Games, scheduled January 24-27. The four-day mega event, organized by the Sports and Youth Affairs Department of Punjab, will feature baseball as part of its 24-sport showcase.

Basketball, Rugby, Teambuilding Project in Alexandria

Earlier this month, GSP International President, Dennis Chamberlain, GSP Rugby and Teambuilding coach, Jung Jung, and GSP Basketball coach, Bryan Spears, traveled to Egypt to once again join our partners at Reshape and lead in a week-long multifaceted project in the city of Alexandria.

The first phase of the project included a three-day basketball, touch rugby, and teambuilding program for all middle school and high school students at Schutz American School. The program took place each day during the school’s physical education class time. More than 160 students took part in the classes, learning the unique fundamental sport skills of each discipline, as well as character education. The life skill theme for the week was integrity, as students were taught the importance of understanding moral principles, always being honest, and showing honor to everyone.

Phase Two connected GSP to one of the most prestigious basketball clubs in the country, Sporting Club Alexandria. Sporting Club’s “mini-basket” academy coaches (U8, U10, U12) underwent GSP’s newly-developed Transformational Coaching clinic. The clinic included a one-hour classroom session, which focused on what it means to be a transformational coach, outlined key differences between Transactional Coaching and Transformational Coaching, and shifted the coaches’ attention onto the athletes who play the sport. Next, attendees were taught the basics of coaching progressions and the benefits of using small-sided games within a practice for individual and team development.

Finally, the action moved to the court, with two one-hour training sessions (first for the U12 Girls, then for U12 Boys), demonstrating practical examples of what these teaching and coaching progressions look like in action. Ninety players took part in the demonstration, with the girls working on general offensive basics like passing, cutting, and how to space the floor. The boys worked on skills related to scoring; converting layups at the rim and creating advantages in one-on-one situations.

"The academy coaches at Sporting Club showed a desire to learn and grow as coaches. They wanted to apply the lessons of Transformational Coaching to specific situations they are facing in their teams. I was encouraged to see the potential for growth in the relationship between GSP, Sporting, and Reshape."
- GSP International President, Dennis Chamberlain

It was a thrilling conclusion to another successful and excitement-filled project in Alexandria. Global Sports Partners would like to make a special note of thanks to our team at Reshape, Schutz American School, and Sporting Club Alexandria for hosting us and contributing to an awesome week.

Even more is on the way for our team in Alexandria, stay tuned!

Furches Named Senior Sports Advisor in Lahore

Forman College in Lahore, Pakistan has announced the hiring of GSP representative Brian Furches as its Senior Sports Advisor.

In his new role, Furches will oversee all facets of sports programming at Forman College; supervising FC coaches, aiding in the training and development of coaches and athletes, and managing all of the school’s sporting events. Furches plans to emphasize a “values-focused” coaching philosophy, a focal-point for GSP Coaches, and apply it to each program, coach, and player.

“My family and I are very excited to be here in Lahore and look forward to helping FC develop their sports programs while modeling character, instilling values, and building a strong work ethic within its members.”
- Brian Furches, FC Senior Sports Advisor

In addition to the Senior Sports Advisor role at Forman, Furches will also serve as a lead consultant and trainer for Pakistan Federation Baseball. As part of GSP Baseball’s continued presence in Pakistan — which has brought the donation of baseball equipment, introductory skill trainings, and development strategy meetings with the federation; all in this year alone — Furches will specifically contribute in the training of Federation baseball coaches, with an eye for national team placements.

“I hope to improve the caliber of play for the entire Pakistan Federation Baseball team. Overall, my goal is that every single player, coach, and staff member will feel supported, encouraged, and equipped to be the best they can be.”

- Brian Furches, PFB Consultant/Trainer