Hiland coach brings Italian training methods to Holmes County

Hiland girls head coach Brady Schlabach returned to Holmes County after attending a coaching camp in Italy on November 21 that was led by coach teacher Alex Sarama. The camp emphasized a constraints led approach and live action decision making drills, placing players in small sided scenarios such as two on two and three on three to force quicker choices and greater on court autonomy. Schlabach said he intends to adapt those exercises to Hiland practice routines.

The immediate takeaway for local families is practical. Schlabach plans to replace some traditional drill work with the small sided, game like exercises that prioritize reading the play and making faster decisions under pressure. That approach is designed to shorten the learning curve for individual players and to alter the team flow during games by encouraging smarter spacing, quicker passing and more autonomous play from younger athletes.

Coaching exchanges like the one Schlabach attended bring international training ideas to a local level. For Holmes County, where high school sports are a focal point of community life, the introduction of modern practice methods can raise the competitive standard without necessarily increasing costs. Instead of more hours spent on rote repetition, the small sided exercises compress decision making practice into shorter, more intense segments that coaches say can speed skill transfer to game situations.

The change also has program level implications. Adopting a constraints led framework can help coaches develop players who are more adaptable and ready to react to varied opponents. That may improve Hiland s performance on the court and make the program more attractive to students deciding where to play. For parents and boosters, the potential is for better quality practices and more engaging games, which can sustain turnout and community support.

Schlabach s trip underscores a broader trend of coaches seeking professional development beyond regional clinics. Bringing back concrete drills from an international camp gives Hiland a ready set of exercises to pilot during the offseason and into the next season. For young athletes in Holmes County, the result could be faster on court decision making, clearer roles within team offenses and measurable improvements in game tempo.

As the Hiland staff integrates these methods, observers will look for changes in practice structure and early season results to assess how international coaching ideas translate into local success.