Post by Elena Tool

Last week I had the opportunity to spend four days in Belgium as part of an Erasmus programme focused on basketball coaching development 🇧🇪🏀 It was an incredibly valuable experience to learn more about different coaching structures, player development pathways, and educational systems within Belgian basketball. During the visit: • I spent time at Basketbalclub Filou Oostende and their Academy, where we met the coaching staff and observed practices. • Visited Finexa BasketatSea, watched training sessions, and discussed their club structure and long-term player development plans. • Met with Joris Swillen to gain insight into coaching education in Belgium and how their certification classes are structured. • Visited KTA Brugge to learn more about their basketball specialisation programme and how sport is integrated into the school system. • Spent time with Kortrijk Spurs, where we took part in a pre-game video session, watched practice, and had great conversations with the coaching staff. A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to welcome us, share knowledge, and openly discuss their approaches. Especially Aernout Dorpmans and Verhamme Dirk! Experiences like this are invaluable for growth as a coach and for building strong international connections within the game. Grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to applying what I’ve learned!