Basketball Wales launches new High Performance Coaching Programme
Basketball Wales is launching a new two year High Performance Coaching Programme aimed at accelerating the development of ambitious coaches across Wales.
The programme will initially offer places to four to six coaches, providing a combination of basketball specific development, coach development, reflective practice, performance analysis, cross-sport learning and practical experiences.
Applications are now open, with the first cohort beginning its development journey in October 2026.
Developing the coach behind the coach
The ambition of the programme goes beyond providing coaches with more technical and tactical knowledge.
Basketball Wales wants to develop well-rounded coaches who think critically about their practice, understand themselves and their players, continually seek opportunities to learn and can apply that learning within their own environments.
Over the two years, coaches will work with experts in coach development and reflective practice, alongside experienced basketball coaches and practitioners who can challenge and deepen their understanding of the game.
The programme will also look outside basketball. Participants will have opportunities to learn from other sports, coaches and performance environments, exposing themselves to different approaches and considering how these could be applied within basketball.
Coaches will be encouraged to critically challenge themselves and each other, experiment within their own coaching environments and reflect on the impact of their practice.
The programme will combine in-person development, webinars, practical experiences and individual development conversations, with coaches applying their learning back within their clubs and teams.
Participants will also be supported towards achieving their Level 3 coaching qualification during the programme.
More than a qualification
Ryan Chambers, Basketball Wales Head of Performance and Coaching Pathways, said:
“We have some really good, enthusiastic coaches working across Welsh basketball and we want to give those who are ambitious about their development an opportunity to accelerate that journey.
“This isn’t simply about giving coaches more basketball content or helping them achieve another qualification. We want to challenge how they think, how they reflect, how they communicate and ultimately how they coach.
“We’ll work with experts in coach development, basketball and performance analysis, but we’ll also look outside our sport. There is a huge amount we can learn from other coaches and other performance environments if we’re prepared to be curious and critically challenge what we currently do.
“Ultimately, we want coaches to take that learning back into their clubs and positively influence the players and coaches around them. Over time, we also want to help some of our best coaches progress into national and higher-performance coaching environments.”
Who are we looking for?
Basketball Wales is looking for four to six ambitious coaches for the first cohort.
The programme is primarily aimed at Level 1 and Level 2 coaches who are actively coaching and have a genuine ambition to develop themselves.
Applicants do not need to see themselves as the finished product. In fact, the programme is designed for coaches who recognise that they still have plenty to learn.
We are particularly interested in coaches who demonstrate:
- Ambition and a desire to progress
- Curiosity and a willingness to learn
- Self-awareness and an ability to reflect
- Openness to having their thinking challenged
- A commitment to applying their learning within their own coaching environment
- A desire to positively influence basketball in Wales
What will the programme involve?
The two-year programme will begin in October 2026 and will include:
- Basketball-specific technical and tactical development
- Reflective practice and individual coach development
- Performance analysis and use of evidence within coaching
- Learning from experienced coaches and experts
- Cross-sport learning and exposure to different performance environments
- In-person development sessions and online webinars
- Individual development conversations
- Practical application within each coach’s own environment
- Development of an individual area of coaching expertise
- Support towards achieving the Level 3 coaching qualification
Successful applicants will be expected to commit to the full two-year programme and engage fully with the development opportunities provided.
Applications
Applications are now open and will close at 23:59 on Sunday 27 September 2026.
Following the closing date, applications will be reviewed by Basketball Wales and shortlisted coaches will be invited to interview during the week commencing Monday 5th October 2026.
The programme will begin in October, with exact dates confirmed with successful applicants following the selection process.
Apply via the link below
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/vd5wkjgh6D
Developing our next generation of coaches
Alongside the High Performance Coaching Programme, Basketball Wales is also looking for four to six aspiring coaches aged under 23 who are at an earlier stage of their coaching journey.
This will be a lighter touch, one year development opportunity designed to give young coaches greater exposure to coaching, coach development and different ideas and environments.
Participants do not need extensive coaching experience or qualifications. We want to hear from young people who are curious about coaching, excited by it and want to learn more.
The emphasis will be on exposure, learning and creating connections with other coaches rather than formal assessment or additional coursework.
Aspiring coaches will have opportunities to engage with selected development activity across the year and learn alongside coaches and practitioners from within and outside basketball.
Expressions of interest also close at 23:59 on Sunday 27th September 2026.
Apply Via the Link Below
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/YptGaxK1iv
Any questions related to these two opportunities please email Ryan Chambers, Head of Performance and Coaching Pathways – selaw.llabteksab@srebmahcnayR
