JONESBORO, Ark. (6/15/12) — Arkansas State Assistant Athletic Trainer Natalie Trotter recently traveled to Lira, Uganda in connection with International Sport Connection to assist with the first part of a two-part coach training program at Lira Integrated School. 

With funding from SportsUnited, a division of the U.S. Department of State, Trotter was part of a team of eight Americans that took more than 20 suitcases filled with enough equipment to prepare over 200 coaches and 400 children during the basketball coach training at Lira Integrated.  Trotter and the seven other members of the team made the 30-hour journey in May, with Trotter lecturing on four topics during the six-day basketball coach training period. 

Trotter, a licensed and certified athletic trainer, lectured on the topics of Common Fitness Injuries, Care and Prevention of Common Fitness Injuries, Nutrition, and Building Speed, Strength and Stamina.

“When the ISC contacted me and asked if I would be interested in joining them as a part of their Basketball Coaching Exchange I didn't hesitate,” said Trotter.  “I felt it was the opportunity of a lifetime and going to Africa has always been a dream of mine.”

“Walking through the streets of Lira on the way to training sessions, it was unbelievable seeing people with very little have such big smiles,” continued Trotter.  “The best part of the trip were the children - the richest smiles I have ever seen. The experience in itself was absolutely amazing. It was good to wake up every day and feel I had a purpose. To not only feel, but see that there is more to life helped me put things into perspective. I was excited see the school (Lira Intergrated) that Beatrice Ayuru built. Beatrice is a phenomenal woman, I knew her story was amazing, but to actually see the school she built brick by brick sent chills up my spine. Beatrice is a role model and has given the people of Uganda hope in a sense.  Her school has two swimming pools and now three basketball courts thanks to Courts for Kids and SportsUnited. Though I was there to teach, I learned way more from the coaches of Uganda than they learned from me. The 'teach, train, manage, mentor' philosophy of the ISC is a philosophy of life. As a 'team' I was only able to spend a small amount of time with team/staff of ISC 2012, but we now have shared an experience that will bond us for life. I am excited for the second part of the ISC Ugandan Basketball Coaches Exchange Summer 2013.  Being able to live a dream and make new friends in the process was a blessing.”

The International Sport Connection was founded on the belief that coaches can play a particularly influential role in the lives of children, especially for children in challenging circumstances, who are in greater need of consistent contact with a caring adult mentor; to be a complete coach, a coach must possess the knowledge and motivation to effectively teach, train, manage, and mentor children and youth.