The appointment of Marco Pappalardo to head coach of the youth groups of INVICTUS Academy It came at the end of the Monday dinner Staff 30 July. Fresh promotion to National Coach, celebrated during the fourth edition of the Camp, the compliments received was followed by the proposal of a role “full time” in the new draft Zoran Savic, communicated directly to the end of the evening Michele Forino, Marco Sanguettoli e Luca Brochetto. Despite the offer of a tradition that the club Anzola Basketball, ready to believe in him as a coach, after he acquired as a player, but for this it would be nice to work together, as well as with other companies ready to help people improve their boys, through deepening seasonal work. We'll talk again...
Marco Pappalardo, how it feels? "Honestly, it is straentusiasmante, because I lived the reality of INVICTUS Camp since the beginning, I got passionate and we grew up together. Seeing her land, After four editions, the decision to initiate the competitive activity, It means that we worked well, and the decision to appoint head coach of the youth groups makes me even happier. Just the way I am, When I think of a project we throw, in four years it took as much as possible of my, in the field but also off, with ideas and proposals for the future. Having the ability to implement them means that Savic, Forino, Sanguettoli Brochetto and believed in me as a person and coach. We believe in the same values to be transferred through the basketball. That's what I love most".
From promotion to National Coach to the Head Coach role of INVICTUS Academy ... "E 'was definitely a summer only. During a lunch mid-week Camp, I received an email the CNA, informing me that he had passed the exam! For the compliments of all the staff have joined those of Savic, and within ten days we got the offer to join the Academy project ... I invested in my coaching career, after 18 years as a professional player, I felt the need to continue to live basketball, and now I'm ready to make my life plan. Thanking my best friend, who first understood the empathy that I had to teach basketball to boys and pushed me to perform various coaching courses, Following his way".
A best friend that you carry within ... "Yup, Matteo Bertolazzi have grown from teammates, establishing a deep friendship. When he started to feel bad, I tried to plan my activities so that you can go to find, and I think it is no coincidence that, behind my decision to become coach, There it was he: It was his last, greatest gift. Now that unfortunately Matteo is gone, I would like to do something to remember, involving his family. I immediately found the highest availability by INVICTUS Academy: in the events we organize, there will always be an award named after him, perhaps to the most deserving guy. Because Matthew was a special guy, and is the person who is the player".
A concept, this, that you always try to transfer to the guys who train ... "At the first camp where allenai, in Santa Margherita Ligure, Marco Savini told me that if I had not continued to coach, I would have removed the greeting ... When I decided to get closer to Bologna, Ugo Bartolimi another friend who called me as his assistant, tre anni in S.G. Fortitudo and then two at Pontevecchio ... All important people, Leg. As you were, each in its own way, all the coaches I've had in career: I joined Virtus Basketball when I was only 7 years, and Minibasket I came all the way to youth. Arriving to train for the entire season 1997/1998 with the first team coached by Ettore Messina. A dream, for a guy like me".
Is there something that you remember in particular your years at Juventus? "Human relationships with teammates, mostly. I was a moody player, a little 'out of time, but my companions showed me forever as captain. It was natural to use my athletic skills, They came out steps behind his back and crushed, as well as celebrations meant they did not want to disrespect their opponents, but only free my character in the field, I was out of that kind and polite. In just one year, Marco Sanguettoli taught me more than all, especially the dribble-stop-and-shoot, not pulling more down-to-earth but suspended, a key that allowed me then to play at high levels. And in a training session with the Serie A, before a direct challenge, Messina instructed me to do Djordjevic, flinging incoming on the right side and making arrest and shooting on the left side, to train defense Virtus ... Beyond that episode that filled me with pride, the withdrawal in Folgaria epilogue of the season, it was a fantastic experience".
How do you relate to the teams that train? "A youth team is a group of boys, each with its own character and with different needs. It 'important to treat the relationship with each of them, understanding the psychology, talk to him. Maybe that's what, when I was a boy, I wanted to get. When you take a player, I want to do it in a constructive way, not only serves to scold or to punish. I see myself, many kids today. Maybe it was closer to their age, that at my. empathetically, I think kids understand that there are past, I tried their own emotions, joys and difficulties. I try to bring out the best from every guy, not at the technical level force, because basketball is a tinge of reality, It helps to grow, but it serves to engage, Team work, comply mates and coaches. He is coach them to come to the gym with a smile, doing so much work on fundamentals, but at the same time giving the concepts of a dynamic game and transition, work on space and movement with and without the ball, with the right timing, because the field must always be moving and collaboration".
What will give more INVICTUS Academy boys? "The possibility, in addition to FIP Championships, to live extremely important formative experiences, organizing them directly through the network of international knowledge of Savic and national undertakings that each of us has, and also leading the boys out, in Italy and abroad, keeping alive their sense of team, that goes far beyond the size of the basketball court. E, more, because the sport needs to open its doors to all, we will try to develop something extremely innovative, involving schools that adhere to our project, both from a sporting point of view and academic, as in other realities. Something very exciting and identification for boys, and not just those who play basketball. By learning from the American model of high school and college".