KMS SkolaSport offers children a choice from a good selection of sports and venues in order to lure them to become more active, enjoy a healthier lifestyle, become more physically literate and enjoy themselves whilst doing sport.
A number of coaches, within the KMS SkolaSport programme, dedicate their time to instil their love for the sport in their young students.
One of such coaches is Samantha Tabone who has been coaching basketball with KMS SkolaSport for the past three years. In this year’s KMS programme, she is presently assisting the men’s national team coach, Bruno Pietrantonio, during the basketball sessions where a total of 35 children, made upof 16 boys and 19 girls, are taking part.
At the same time, Samantha Tabone is reading a university course to become a physical education (PE) teacher. She commented,“I think that the course I am following is providing the right knowledge and pedagogy to teach the children new skills, irrespective of their abilities. Getting to know the children is one of the most important aspects of coaching. Once you get to know the participants, you can adapt your teaching style. It is important to be very patient with young children and make the skill easy for them to learn. On the other hand, with older students it is important to explain the skill and how this can be used during a game.”
“In the past years, students have shown a particular aptitude for basketball and were encourage to practice more regularly. In fact, 10 participants from last year’s basketball class within the KMS SkolaSport programme have now joined a basketball club and are competing in the national Under 15 and Under 17 leagues.”
KMS SkolaSport is organised by the Kunsill Malti għall-iSport and is sponsored by Kellogg’s, the world’s leading producer of breakfast cereal, for the eleventh consecutive year as part of its commitment to promote the benefits of a balanced diet, coupled with an active and healthy lifestyle.
For further information about basketball, where sessions are held every Saturday morning at the KMS Marsa Sports Complex, as well as any other sport discipline practiced at the KMS SkolaSport, kindly contact the Programmes Section at the Kunsill Malti għall-iSport Head Office either on tel. 21660658/9, via e-mail: [email protected] or visit the KMS website: www.sportsmalta.org.mt.