VBA - Valkeala Basketball Academy

Contents

VBA in a nutshell Why VBA? Training Studying VBA for international students Clubs and teams

VBA in a nutshell

Athletes study in Valkealan lukio (high school) and practive

in Valkeala talo

Valkeala Basketball Academy: boys’ basketball operations within Kouvolan

urheiluakatemia – other sports may join Academy

later

Depending on skills and other factors, athletes will

play in Kouvot U19 team, in Korikouvot or in men’s

Korisliiga team

Students can graduate high school

in 3 or 4 years

First season and semester of VBA will

start August 1st 2019

Why VBA?

Easy to merge studies and practices to daily

living – no matter if you live in Valkeala or

somewhere else in region

Athletes practice frequently with

outstanding peers and high-quality

coaching in excellent facilities

Practices designed and lead by Head Coach Harri

Mannonen.

Kouvot offers opportunities to progress in sports career through U19 team, men’s

division 1A team and men’s Korisliiga team

Daily schedule is highly optimized for

studying and basketball training from 8.15 to 17.00.

Facilities include high-quality basketball court,

gym, swimming hall, track&field, skiing trail,

ice rink

Valkeala provides outstanding facilities for

training

Studies and practice are exceptionally well coordinated together – use of

time is very effective

Daily training is strongly supported by centralized

training facilities

Facilities

Practices

Harri Mannonen is FIBA certified coach, Masters degree in basketball coaching, with 34 yrs of experience in coaching Experience in various levels from junior teams to men’s teams and national teams

Morning Afternoon

M 10.00—11.30 15.30-17.00

TU 10.00—11.30 15.30-17.00

W 10.00—11.30 -

TH 10.00—11.30 15.30-17.00

F 10.00—11.30 15.30-17.00

SA Depending on fixtures

SU - -

WHO

WHEN

7.45 – 8.10 bus from downtown to school 8.15 – 9.30 lesson 1 10.00 – 11.30 practice 1 11.45 – 12.15 lunch 12.30 – 13.45 lesson 2 14.00 – 15.15 lesson 3 15.30 – 17.00 practice 2 17.10 – 17.30 Bus Valkeala - downtown

DAILY SCHEDULE

Moderate threshold to high school. Open seats available – opportunity to switch from another high school mahdollista

Small high school of 150 students is an

outstanding place to study and practice

Help for accommodation available

Personal student counselling

available, e.g. to NCAA basketball

Studying in Valkealan lukio

VBA for international students

You may attend VBA no matter where you come from. You do not need to be from Finland or to speak Finnish. However, international student athletes should be: • Between 16 and 20 years of age, • Ambitious about their basketball career, and • Able to communicate in English. • Practical arrangements required depend on your nationality. There are two types of opportunities in VBA for international student athletes. 1) Exchange student at Valkeala High School. This is for those are attending high school in their home country. While in Finland, you attend Valkeala High School and practice at VBA. Born in 2001–03, you attempt to earn playing time on the Kouvot U19 squad. 2) VBA prep program. This is for those who have graduated from high school and are at least 18 years old. You do open university studies and practice at VBA. You attempt to earn a spot and playing time on the Korikouvot squad. Korikouvot presently play at men’s Division 1A or second national level. For more info, e-mail VBA head coach Harri Mannonen (harrimannonen@hotmail.com).

Athletes can progress from U19

team to Division 1A or men’s league

Basketball Club Kouvot is a key

actor in VBA operations

Academy supports athlete’s journey -

no matter which club he represents

Academy is an excellent opportunity to combine school and practice for

Kouvot’s players

Clubs and teams

Contact information

Head Coach Harri Mannonen 040 533 2768 harrimannonen@hotmail.com https://harrimannonen.com/cv/