Madrid, Spain – In June, Global Sports Partners organized and hosted a week-long trip for the Huntingdon College Men’s Basketball Team in Spain. The trip consisted of cultural, team-building, and basketball experiences. Huntingdon brought 18 players, 2 coaches, and 2 university administrators. GSP reps facilitated the planning and logistics, accompanying the team to the different locations. Over the course of the week, the team played five friendly games against club teams in the Madrid area; Zentro Basket, CB Las Rozas, Pablo Laso Academy, and UB Villalba.
““Sport can be a tremendous tool to develop leaders. Giving a team the opportunity to have shared cultural, competitive, and learning experiences provides the context for growth.” ”
One vital component of the trip was leadership and team-building training led by GSP International President, Dennis Chamberlain. Together, the team discovered the five characteristics of a high-performance team and made practical applications to their team context and upcoming season. Through different activities and discussions, the players and coaching staff participated and engaged in the learning process, growing in their communication and trust.
The team also visited many significant and historic sites, learning about the local culture. They toured the cities of Toledo and Segovia and had a walking tour of downtown Madrid. There were also some non-basketball, sports highlights, including a ropes course, experiencing Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium, and a Padel clinic and tournament!
True to their motto of “Enter to grow in wisdom, go forth and apply wisdom in service,” Huntingdon participated in two services projects during their time. At CB Las Rozas, the players helped with a local youth basketball camp, and on two different mornings they volunteered serving at a summer camp for children with special needs.
“Our trip to Madrid, Spain was a truly amazing experience. Coach Dennis Chamberlain and Global Sports Partners put together an incredible trip for us, and our guys made the most of each moment. From the ropes course and zip lining, to serving at a local basketball camp as well as a school for children with special needs, to learning how to play Padel and having a team tournament, to tours of Toledo and Segovia, and of course the games we played while there, memories were made to last a lifetime. It was special for me to see our guys thrive in different environments and come together more than ever. They represented themselves, our program, and our college with excellence. Our brotherhood certainly grew much stronger during our time in Spain, and I cannot wait to get this season started with this group and our incoming guys.” Coach Zac Richards
Plans are underway to continue and expand this successful program next summer!