As a basketball coach Niamh Dwyer is loving the lessons she is learning from the 3x3 international game

Niamh Dwyer has had a very busy summer coaching with the Irish European Youth and Senior 3x3 basketball teams.

After spending a number of years being involved with different programs internationally over the last few summers, Niamh was only too delighted to get involved with 3x3 game. 

The opportunity presented itself to her as head coach of the European Youth Olympic festival team. 

The European Youth Olympic festival is aimed at U18 athletes with aspirations to go on to higher levels in their respective sports. 

Dwyer was delighted with the number of people who put themselves forward for the program, which gave her the opportunity to put the best mix of players on the court.

“The team performed magnificently at the tournament and I so proud of them all,” Niamh said.

“The girls had a busy summer to balance their 5 X5 European tournament preparations along with their 3x3 preparations.

“The team topped the group with the Netherlands Romania and Latvia. 

"The team then went on to compete against Slovenia in the quarter-finals and won game from a medal opportunity, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. 

"As their coach I could not ask for more."

After the European Youth Olympic festival Niamh got the opportunity to travel to a World series event at senior level, as the head coach Colin O'Reilly was unavailable for the event in Bordeaux.

“I got to travel with the Senior 3x3 side in Bordeaux and it was a great learning experience for myself at this level.

“The team competing against a Spanish team and team USA, however, unfortunately the win alluded us but I would be hopeful for next season that the senior team can get their first win at the World Series level."

Dywer explains what she took from coaching at the European Youth Festival and Senior World Series and gives some very valuable advice to any young player that wants to play internationally.

“The biggest thing I learned especially at the World Series level watching the top players execute the different actions is their ability to read what the defenses giving them, it makes them extremely hard to defend. 

"I think as coaches we have a responsibility to bring up the skill level, but also then aid players on decision making when to use this different skill sets. 

"That's what's going to separate us and help us compete against the top players in the world. 

"We need to coach them differently and get them to solve the problems themselves.

"We need to challenge players to think for themselves and be able to adjust quicker in games.

“The biggest challenge at international level 3 v 3 is the length and speed of the players that we come up against. 

"Players have to learn very quickly how to adjust their game to the higher standard. 

"Things they can do at a national level and even at Super League level won't be successful at 3x3 international level. 

"The players who can adjust the quickest will be the most successful at these tournaments. 

"The players who can read what the defense is giving them start setting up the defender to where they want them to to be will make the most impact."

Dwyer, who retired from playing at Women’s Super League with Fr Mathew’s at the end of the summer is now solely concentrating on the coaching aspect of the game. 

She is currently coaching with the Fr Mathew’s U20 team and at the academy at club level and also all the girls teams with Glanmire Community College, however, she will definitely be involved with the Irish 3X3 programs next summer.

“I will definitely be involved with 3x3 program next summer. 

"The underage teams this summer had some magnificent results with our U18 and U23s beating the likes of Netherlands Latvia Serbia Greece. 

"I look forward to help building on the success of these programs.

“So, at club level I am now back at the academy level with my young daughter coaching them every Sunday morning, and I am coaching the U20 team in Fr Mathew's. 

"I'm also involved with all the girls teams in my school at Glanmire Community College.

“My advice to any young player that has aspirations to play internationally is be coachable, be willing to learn, be willing to adapt, because your role at international level could be very different from your role at club level.

"Coaches don't expect you at underage international level to be the finished package, but they want to see a player who can improve, who can listen, and who is willing to be a really good teammate,” Dywer added.