Free morning, empty gym, players arrive little by little to train individually. While the technical staff discusses the work to be done, one of them is called back to start a shooting session: “I want Nick! I want Nick!”. Nick Schlitzer is Coach Christian‘s third assistant, officially “Player Development Coach”which deals in particular with following the players to help them work in a constructive and preparatory way to what is required of them on the pitch.
“I arrived here last season because I knew Jamion and I knew I was joining a high-level team: it was an excellent opportunity for my career to grow” says Coach Schlitzer, who before sitting on the bench had already played at a professional level in Europe. “When I arrived I was the only one in my role in the entire A2 Series, but I didn’t give it any weight. We want to do things our way here and there was a desire to start a player development program: my only thought was to dedicate myself to the growth of our kids to the best of my ability”.
The pitch demonstrated that the challenge was largely won by Nick, despite having arrived in a complicated championship, in a rollercoaster season and in a team almost entirely made up of Italian players and therefore with a culture and work habits different from his .
“A lot of what I did was new for the Italians last year, while this year things are a little different: the players have learned to know and appreciate the targeted work sessions, plus the newcomers have a lot of experience international and therefore are familiar with this type of approach”.
“It’s always about collaborating and maintaining a relationship based on dialogue: we need to find the right compromise between what the players see from the field and what I see looking at them from outside, only in this way can we improve” explains Coach Schlitzer, who adds: “Being Being a player helps a lot because I experienced many sensations and moments that my boys experience every day, so I can create a relationship and help them deal with every situation, whether positive or negative.”
Returning to the present, we cannot help but talk about the two victorious away matches experienced by the red and whites and how these weeks have passed away from friendly walls. Long trips can be an opportunity to get together and focus on basketball, despite the hostile fans and the discomfort of having to adapt your routine to the team’s schedule.
“On away games we work a lot, both on the upcoming match and on the next one; Sometimes there is some time to spend in the hotel and it’s a good opportunity to get on with work. We all have to follow the same times when away: it’s nice to be able to eat all together for example, and I’m a foreigner so I like to try new local dishes and do it in company.”
“Normally we are always in the hotel or leave immediately after the match, but for example in Naples we the technical staff spent a nice evening together. Going for a walk, eating pizza in the city, drinking a beer with colleagues: when it happens it’s always pleasant and helps to recharge the batteries.”
Returning to PalaTrieste with four points more in the standings is an equally positive feeling, which can give the push to follow up on the excellent results from the start of the season: “Two such difficult away matches at this point in the calendar could end in two opposite ways; we were very solid in bringing home results in difficult conditions, which is what great teams do.”
