In university sports, where academic workloads compete with the athletic schedule, and young athletes must not only master new tactics but also mature, the path to medals requires a special approach. How can you cultivate a champion's spirit in a young team, maintain a balance between studies and training, and turn the team into a true family? We discussed this with the women's basketball coach Elena Iskandarova, who has been leading her team to victories in regional and national tournaments for several years now.
– What are your team's immediate goals?
– This season, we are focused on two key goals. The first are athletic results: we would like to win medals at the Student Basketball Association Championship and the Chelyabinsk Region Universiade. The second is individual growth: we have a fairly fresh team. With the girls who graduated last season, we won many awards during their time there. Now it is up to the younger girls to prove themselves and strive for top results.
– How do you plan to strengthen leadership positions among student teams in our region?
– Training, training, and more training! But as I’ve said earlier, our team is still quite young. Besides training, we work on their psychology and motivation. After all, the girls have just finished school. A new school and schedule can be physically and emotionally challenging for them. It is easy to lose focus, relax at some point, or skip a training session. So I try to talk to each one, get them motivated, and discuss the importance of a specific game or a tournament in general.
– What steps are you taking to improve the level of training of the players?
– In addition to regular basketball training, we also train in the gym, in the pool, and when the weather permits, we go outside for a run. In summer, the team travels to the Olimp camp, which is a great place to hold training camps. Besides physical training, we often work on our intellectual abilities: we attend seminars, watch replays of our games, and analyse them. It is important that the athletes understand the game, not just follow my instructions. All this helps the girls fully develop both physically and intellectually.
– How important is psychological training for athletes, and how do you work on motivation?
– In fact, the mental aspect of college basketball (especially women's basketball) is incredibly important. As we know, psychological training is 50% of success. As I’ve noted earlier, individual conversations are very helpful: it is important to understand each girl's goals and concerns, whether it is athletic development or successfully balancing academics.
Team coaching: we develop stress resilience and learn to "reset" after mistakes in the game.
Motivation: it must be internal. We help players see their personal progress (through videos and statistics). I also practice "motivation through responsibility": I assign key players tasks to mentor newcomers and inexperienced players, which fosters team cohesion and strengthens leadership skills.
– How do you balance studies and athletic training?
– To be honest, this is the main challenge in our work. But we have had a clear action plan for a while now, and overall, we are managing it! First, there is a flexible schedule: training sessions are planned around exam sessions and test weeks. Second, there is awareness: we have a shared calendar where players can schedule important deadlines. Third, of course, there is a culture of prioritization: we instil in them the idea that they are student athletes. Missing a training session because they haven't prepared for an exam is unacceptable, but rescheduling a training session for the morning before a test is possible by mutual agreement. Fourth, support is an integral part: we create an atmosphere within the team where players can ask their teammates for help with their studies. This strengthens team spirit.
– What is the secret of your high results?
– If we are talking about a "secret", it is not a single magic formula, but literally three pillars. The first is trust. I believe in my players and give them the right to make mistakes and be creative on the court. The second is an obsession with details. We win not in games, but in every single training session, by analysing every moment. The third is a sense of family. When the girls play not just for the team, but for each other, they find the strength to fight even in the most difficult moments. This is what drives our consistent performance.
– What are the main obstacles the team faces on its way to success?
– There are two main challenges, and we are working on each:
Competition for time and resources: as I’ve have already mentioned, the key point is balancing studies and sports. This is a constant process of optimization.
Psychological barrier: sometimes a team accustomed to being "among the best" finds it difficult to make the leap to the status of "undisputed champion". We overcome this by participating in stronger tournaments, where losses provide more experience than easy victories.
– What helps you overcome difficulties and maintain the high level of motivation?
– First, clarity of purpose. We always remember what we are working towards. Second, we rejoice in both the big and small victories. We celebrate not only titles but also personal bests, such as a good defence session, or a successful free throw (when your hands are shaking in the final seconds of a game). This creates a constant flow of positivity. Third, leading by example and openness. I am always available, sharing both joys and disappointments with the team. We analyse failures without assigning blame, but rather with the question: "What did this give us? How can we become stronger?". Finally, the ability to recharge: sometimes the best workout is to go to the movies or take a walk in nature together. A clear head restores motivation.
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