Sabonis’ initiative, which had unanimous support, is gaining momentum

Then, at the initiative of the president of the LKF, Arvydas Sabonis, he received the unanimous support of the members of the executive committee and the decision was made to allocate 130,000 euros to the coaches.

“According to the results of the LKF activities, we have the opportunity to encourage the coaches who have contributed to the development of the players of the Lithuanian teams during the last two Olympic cycles. We believe that this beautiful tradition will continue in the future after each Olympic cycle, so the basketball coaches will be grateful for their work, ”said Arvydas Sabonis, President of the LKF, after the last meeting of the LKF Executive Committee.

The LKF Mastery Commission, which met on Wednesday, developed and approved by majority vote a regulation, according to which the players of the national team and the first coaches trained by the player could be honored and awarded before the annual conference of the LKF. This regulation has not yet been approved by the LKF Executive Committee.

“Because I am participating in the LKF presidential elections, I have withdrawn from this topic to avoid unnecessary interpretation or speculation.

The commission today decided to reward the first coaches who trained students during the first two years with cash prizes. In this way, we want to encourage coaches to seek out new talent, ”said Ramūnas Butautas, Chairman of the LKF Mastery Commission.

The regulation will encourage the first coaches whose teams and teams have achieved high results at the European and World Adult Championships, the Olympic Games and Universities, and the European and World Youth Championships in the last two Olympic cycles ( since 2013).

Only prizes won in the adult championships will be evaluated, and in the junior championships, at the suggestion of Dainius Čiuprinskas, member of the LKF Mastery Commission, the achievements have been expanded, so the coaches will receive an incentive if the students they earn 1 to 5 places in men’s championships and 1-6 places in women’s championships.

“I support this initiative by Arvydas Sabonis. It is correct to encourage the first coach who put in more work, not only teaching the basics of basketball, but also the elementary school of life. The entry of the second coaches is a consequence of what the first coach has already done. Without the first coaches, there would be no other coaches, “said European champion Donatas Slanina.

The € 130,000 is expected to go to almost 200 coaches whose teams have won medals or qualified in official tournaments in the last two Olympic cycles with the national teams.

Composition of the Master Commission of the LKF: Lina Brazdeikytė, Vilius Stanišauskas, Saulius Momkauskas, Aurimas Bikulčis, Giedrius Gustas, Jurgita Šreimikytė-Virbickienė, Tomas Purlys, Alfredas Doniava, Dalius Lubys, GintautasŽantasŽ , Dainius Novickas, Ramūnas Butautas.