1) Hello Benoît, could you introduce yourself?
My name is Benoît Becuwe, I’m 28 years old, and I’m from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. This basketball season, I was partly the second assistant for the National 1 team of Pont-sur-Huy, which competes in National 1. I was also the head of the reserve team and worked as an employee at the club.
2) Could you tell us about your background as a basketball player?
I started playing in Cappelle-la-Grande, near Dunkirk. I went through all the selection processes at the departmental and regional levels. I trained at the Pôle Espoir in Wattignies, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region. I then went through the training centers of Gravelines Dunkerque and Boulogne-sur-Mer in Pro B and Pro A. After that, I played at the Pré-Nationale and National 3 levels for a few years. Today, I’m a coach at the CFBB.
3) What motivated you to transition from being a player to becoming a coach?
When I was young, people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I’d say I wanted to be a professional basketball player. That was always my goal and ambition. But around 17-19 years old, I realized that it wouldn’t happen as a player because I lacked the talent and certain basketball skills. So I turned toward another way to reach that goal through two things I’m passionate about: sharing knowledge and building projects. Coaching made sense as a path to pursue those passions.
4) What skills from your playing career have been useful in your role as a coach?
Since I wasn’t a highly talented player able to compete at the top level, I made up for it with a lot of hard work, energy in everything I did, and leadership within my teams. Today, these three qualities are central to my coaching approach.
5) Could you tell us about your journey as a coach so far?
The first time I got into coaching was when I was at the training center in Bruyne-sur-Mer with SAMB. I was in my second year, playing in the hopes category. My coach, Thibaut Walicki, who is currently the coach of Carper in National 1, allowed me to join the mini-basket staff at that time. I was also fortunate to be an assistant coach for the U18 elite team. I’ve coached all categories and levels at the departmental and regional levels to be able to reach the higher levels today.
6) What has been the most memorable moment of your coaching career so far?
There have been many memorable moments. I like to say that we have this passion for the sport because we experience emotions. Every time we feel those emotions, it leaves a lasting impression, whether positive or negative.
This year, we managed to qualify for the Final Four with the César team that I coached. It was an intense emotional experience following some challenging moments during the season, but we succeeded in reaching our goal despite everything. So recently, that has been the moment that impacted me the most.
7) What challenges do you face during the recruitment/scouting period?
In my recruitment process, I prioritize the human relationships I can establish with the players. We often talk about a player’s profile shooters, strong defenders, leaders but we don’t really get to know the person behind the profile. Today, I need to have that connection with players to understand their passion, their goals, their values, etc. Without that discussion, it’s difficult to envision a future together.
During recruitment, there’s a lack of that personal connection because everything moves very quickly, and we don’t always have the opportunity to interact directly with the players. We also meet a lot of people in a short amount of time.
8) Why did you decide to coach in the Lyon region?
In my life, this isn’t the first time I’ve moved. I’ve been in Deux-Sèvres and I’ve also lived in Toulouse. When I wanted to professionalize myself as a coach, I needed to obtain diplomas like the PPGF and then the TEGF to have state-recognized qualifications to work in clubs through alternating structures. At that time, when I heard about IFRAP, I realized it might be the best training institute in France, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to be part of a reputable institution. So, I applied to IFRAP.
At that time, Sportiw and IFRAP were working together, and I had access to all the announcements from clubs looking for interns in the region. That’s where I met with the SOPCC club, and now I am a coach there.
9) What advice would you give to players currently looking for a club during this recruitment period?
Players need to be clear about their goals and seek a relationship of understanding with their coaches. It’s important that the way they want to play aligns with their coach’s approach. Both the players and the coaches should aim to grow as individuals and, in turn, progress as basketball players.
10) How do you use Sportiw, and what do you like the most about it?
The advantage of using Sportiw is that we have direct access to the player. We can see their profile and videos, and we can communicate quickly and easily. Personally, I prefer having this direct relationship instead of going through an agent. I can access players directly based on the profile I’m looking for. It saves time and allows me to establish initial contact with the player, which can lead to deeper discussions if I feel they would be a good fit for my team.
11) You have known Sportiw for a long time, as you were registered on the platform as a player. How do you see the evolution of Sportiw?
The number of users has definitely increased, providing much greater visibility not only in France but also in other countries. The growing user base and geographical coverage are significant strengths, as they allow for a broader perspective on the number of available players. Additionally, the entire interface has improved, particularly with the ability to find videos and the very responsive chat feature. This qualitative evolution makes the platform much more interesting.
12) Do you have a word of advice for those who are hesitant to get started on Sportiw?
The platform really satisfies curiosity, allowing users to explore all markets and see the available players. Even if someone isn’t quite ready to make contacts, just browsing profiles and seeing what players are doing adds value. Plus, it doesn’t commit you to anything, as there’s a free version that offers basic functionalities. If you want to professionalize further, switching to the premium version is beneficial.
It’s an easy way to satisfy the curiosity that coaches or players might have. So, I would encourage anyone to sign up. It doesn’t cost anything and provides much broader visibility than what you might find in your clubs or smaller organizations.
Thank you, Benoît, for taking the time for this interview. Best of luck with the next steps in your career!
You can find all our testimonials already on our blog, in the “testimonials” section.