Annie La Fleur, the Development Manager for FIBA Oceania, is in Pago Pago working with the American Samoa Basketball Association (ASBA).

 

“American Samoa’s Women’s team placed 2^nd in the Pacific Games in PNG and that has given them a unique opportunity to be a part of the first ever Division B Qualification in Asia/Oceania in 2017. My job here is to help ASBA put together a High Performance Plan to help the federation with what happens next,” said Ms. La Fleur.  The HPP workshop was conducted at the Tradewinds Hotel and each participant had a big part in putting the plan together.

 

The outcome from the workshop has given ASBA their Key Objectives which are listed below and will help them to be successful in 2017;

 

1. Create a Performance Pathway that identifies coaches, players and officials that have the potential to represent American Samoa, provide development and manage the succession of players, coaches and officials.

 

1. A regular competition schedule for national teams providing players, coaches and officials with experience at the international level.

 

1. High Performance Pathway that identifies coaches, players and officials that have the potential to represent American Samoa, provides development and manages the succession of players, coaches and officials.

 

“This is a wonderful opportunity for the American Samoa Women’s team and I know with the passion and dedication I see here on the island, I feel that your women’s team can achieve a successful outcome”, said Ms. La Fleur.

Along with the workshop, Ms La Fleur was also here to work on Development, especially in the area of Coaching and Refereeing. Her main focus was to evaluate Diehl Langkilde (Coaching) and Paul Puaauli Amituanai (Refereeing). Both Langkilde and Amituanai are now certified to deliver Beginners Coaches Courses and Referee Clinics.

“Both of these gentlemen have been consistent contributors to the American Samoa Basketball Programs, and have also had International exposure and now it is time for them to share their experiences. I feel that both Diehl and Paul are very qualified and have proven to me through their presentations that they are very passionate about the development and have taken ownership of the programs. They are both very knowledgeable and I know will be successful to provide these programs to the betterment of basketball in American Samoa, said Ms. La Fleur.

“Ms. Lafleur leaves Pago Pago Thursday afternoon after her 9 day stay and we would like to thank her for her guidance and wish her safe travels back to Australia. We look forward to what is in store for ASBA and the Women’s’ team and hope that our community can jump on board and help us create history” said ASBA President Milton Taufa’asau.