“Freedom is felt here in the U.S. They say we are free in Lebanon, but it is not felt.”- Nabil

The Lebanese coaches with the Mystics mascot

Twelve Lebanese basketball coaches participated in a Sports Visitor Program in the Washington, D.C. area from July 14-25, 2009. Comprised of seven men and five women, the delegation’s twelve day exchange was created by the Department of State’s SportsUnited office.

Their program included a coaches’ clinics at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington and American University, where the delegates participated in a strength and conditioning session, Title IX discussion, and gathered fitness and nutrition tips for their players. Four-time NBA All-Star Rolando Blackman joined the delegation for a session on game execution, and spent time with the group at a soccer match between D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids. For many, a dream came true when the group was able to attend a WNBA game between the Washington Mystics and the Indiana Fever. During the game the group met WNBA President, Donna Orender. Orender, overtaken by the group’s enthusiasm and love for the game, facilitated a meet and greet with both teams after the game.

A highlight of the trip was the visit to the Embassy of Lebanon, where Ambassador Antoine Chedid welcomed the group and exchanged a few jokes with one of the delegates that he knew from his hometown. The Ambassador was very encouraging and offered the group sound advice to seize this wonderful opportunity to visit and train in America.

During their second week, the group participated in a wheelchair basketball game with New Life, Inc. The Visitors were especially motivated by the wheelchair team’s determination and dedication to making the best of life with their disability. Additionally, Dr. George Selleck, founder of Sports for Life, brought real life application to the Lebanese through situational and conflict resolution drills. Dr. Selleck hit home with a discussion of teaching life skills to players through enjoying the sport of basketball and counteracting negative experiences. Haroutioun Kouzoujian expressed, “The best thing in the United States is that no one cares about your religion, shape or skin color, just about your level of skill.”

These final days brought laughter, learning, and a dialogue of life skills for the Lebanese. Through roundtable discussions and clinics the group learned they struggle with many of the same training and coaching issues as their American counterparts, and through these deliberations they discovered resolutions to many of their problems back home.

Although not wanting to leave, the coaches were excited to bring home ideas they exchanged in the United States. Antoun Khalil, one of the coaches, expressed his goals for home: “I was amazed that you do not rely on the authorities to pay for your clubs. We need to take steps, fundraise for our teams, teach them what we learned in the U.S., so that everyone will embrace each other and get along. We have plenty to do!”