BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The FIBA Regional Office - Asia continued its efforts in furthering the grassroots movement after successfully organizing separate Ball'In Schools programs in two developing basketball countries this December.
The first was held in Chennai last December 03-06, where 31 participants attended the course made possible in cooperation with the Basketball Federation of India.
"This course has been a great exposure to enhance my coaching skills and refine my planning strategies for teaching kids," said M. Mohan, one of the attendees.
"I gathered key insights from fellow candidates. It was truly rewarding as it will help me effectively engage with kids during practice sessions. I also learned a lot from observing and sharing experiences with other coaches," he added.
The other was held in Muscat last December 8-11, made possible in cooperation with the Oman Basketball Association. A total of 22 participants took part in the course, 7 of which were female.
"The program stands out as a model for grassroots development in sports," said Abdullah Al Maqbali, a member of the OBA Technical Development Committee.
"It was meticulously planned and implemented," he added. "This program has laid the foundation for sustainable basketball development in our schools, and will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on our young players and coaches.”
Hamood Al Harthi, one of the coaches that attended the workshop, said: "“This program was a turning point in my professional growth as a basketball coach."
"It demonstrated exceptional knowledge and practical experience, shared with precision and clarity. The feedback during the sessions was invaluable, as it identified subtle details and provided insightful suggestions to improve our coaching methods."
Another participant in Debaj Al Balushi said: “The BIS program has been an enriching experience that exceeded my expectations. The sessions were well-structured and filled with practical knowledge that I can directly apply in my school."
"It brought a wealth of expertise and delivered the content in a way that was engaging and easy to understand. This program not only enhanced my coaching skills but also gave me new perspectives on how to inspire students and foster love for basketball.”
Founded by the FIBA Regional Office - Asia, the Ball'In Schools program aims to help plant the seeds of love for the game at a young age, especially in schools.
It addresses the common challenges that slow down the development of basketball, such as insufficient presence of the sport in schools, the absence of age-group competitions, or the low quality of basketball infrastructure and limited accessibility.
Ball'In Schools does so by empowering local ambassadors with a program to push for basketball in schools. These programs are trained by select experts, where the ambassadors use what they have learned and then take the initiative further.
FIBA