What is a Players' Mentor?
A Players’ Mentor provides lifestyle support and advice. The Players’ Mentor is not an agent or a coach: he/she will look after the player’s best interests and personal development only. He/she will help players to manage their commitments (e.g. sport, studies and/or work) and encourage them to develop as a confident and organised individual.
He/she is usually a retired basketball player that achieved the highest level. He/she understands the complexity of a professional basketball career and can guide players to achieve success. The Players’ Mentor works with players to consider schedules, demands and to identify potential challenges and how these may be resolved. A dual career can be stressful; your Players’ Mentor can work with you to help sporting and non-sporting commitments work together rather than against each other.
What can a Players' Mentor do?
The Players’ Mentor can:
Provide lifestyle support and advice
Provide non-judgemental, holistic, and impartial supporting health and well-being
Be a professional "friend" – a listening ear, a sensibly challenging question based on trust and integrity
Consider the whole person and their life after sport
Help you planning and identifying transitions
Develop your career: increasing self-awareness, exploring career interests and preferences, CV building, interview practice
Guide you through educational options in your country
Give you tips on different topics: time management, balancing your social life and basketball career, dealing with the media, etc.
How does a Players' Mentor work?
Building trust and rapport
Offer a safe, confidential, and reflective space
Signposting – Being aware of other support services, sources of knowledge and information
Empowering – Supporting athletes to take ownership over current and future situations and plans
Taking a holistic/whole-person approach
Learning from, mapping, and planning for future transitions
Working alongside a player’s support team
Coaching & mentoring approach – helping the athlete come to their own solutions and conclusions
Players' Mentor must haves
A Players’ Mentor must have:
Certification from FIBA or any other relevant authority
A proper education
Experience working with athletes
A solid understanding of the challenges of a basketball player
A reputation for honesty, reliability, and professionalism
A professional background as basketball player
Before accepting any advice from Players’ Mentors , make sure that they have the proper certification from FIBA: XXXXX. In case of doubt, or in case of witnessing bad behaviour from Players’ Mentors, please contact your National Federation or FIBA immediately (players@fiba.basketball).