MIES (Switzerland) - The recent FIBA 3x3 Youth Training Camp in the Americas, executed under the FIBA Plus umbrella, has been hailed as a tremendous success for the athletes, coaches, referees, and official representatives of the National Federations who participated in the four-day event.
A comprehensive regional development project for the 3x3 discipline, the initiative has been jointly implemented by FIBA and Olympic Solidarity, with the primary aim of systematically strengthening the capacity of National Federations in the Caribbean sub-zone. Taking place in Nassau in December, the on-site phase of the project saw the host nation Bahamas joined by the Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Each country was represented by U23 male and female players, in addition to coaches, referees, and 3x3 coordinators. The camp provided a highly productive fusion of educational and practical components, delivered through a combination of interactive seminars and plenty of on-court practical work.
There were technical and tactical training sessions for 3x3 players, educational seminars for coaches focused on 3x3 methodology and program development, referee clinics emphasizing the practical application of 3x3 rules, and sessions for official delegations and 3x3 coordinators covering governance, planning, and the sustainable development of the discipline. The camp also had an enjoyable and important competitive component in the shape of a 3x3 Caribbean Cup tournament for men's and women's teams, aimed at the practical application of acquired knowledge.
Furthermore, there was a dedicated local U15 component that focused on youth engagement and the creation of a long-term legacy of the project in the host country.
Perhaps most importantly, the Youth Training Camp was the second phase of the overall project, with the first phase concentrated around FIBA specialists providing strategic support through the FIBA Plus initiative. During this preparatory phase, each participating country received individualized guidance for the development of 3x3. This included an analysis of the national context, existing challenges, and development opportunities within the discipline.
For each National Federation, online consultations were conducted with FIBA 3x3 experts and involved an assessment of the current 3x3 structure in the country, the identification of development priorities and target groups, as well as the definition of realistic short-term and medium-term objectives.
As an outcome of this process, every country that has engaged in the camp has also emerged with bespoke individual restitution reports, their own respective national 3x3 development action plans and individualized recommendations for integrating 3x3 into their broader basketball development ecosystem.
To find out more about FIBA Plus, click here.
FIBA