MIES (Switzerland) - The latest FIBA Players' Mentorship Program has successfully concluded with all 19 participants now ready and equipped to support the global basketball community. Consisting of 10 women and 9 men from 12 different nationalities, including the first to come from New Zealand, Estonia, Romania, Belgium, and Poland, the new mentors all took part in a year-long course, which tipped off during December 2023. It means that with the addition of this latest tranche, the FIBA Players' Mentorship Program has now trained and qualified 74 mentors in total since its 2021 inception. Designed and delivered with the FIBA Players' Commission, which is led by FIBA and NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki and Women's EuroBasket Champion and Olympian Sonia Vasic, the Program is also part of FIBA's key strategic objective to Empower National Federations. FIBA is actively addressing the need to support players both on and off the court with the training of mentors, who, through their National Federations, can all positively impact the experiences of younger elite players.
While only a small percentage of players manage to reach the highest level professionally, staying at the top in the sport and continuing to excel is a significant challenge. The objectives of the FIBA Players' Mentorship Program are:
To help players achieve their highest level on the court
To increase the education among professional basketball players to support them in their transition to a work career after their basketball career
To improve the players’ wellbeing by teaching them how to handle off-court distractions
To empower National Federations and help them create a bond with their players
To decrease the drop-out rate of players at a young age, especially women
In what was an exciting and important journey for all 19 mentors, everyone enjoyed tackling the four main strands of the program: Athlete Lifestyle Mentor Certificate: This aims to equip all participants with knowledge and skills in the areas of athlete lifestyle support and broader athlete demands. The certificate is a 3-day online course. Safeguarding in Sport Course: This raises awareness regarding this important topic, especially when working with young players. As part of the player's entourage, the mentor may be the person that the player discloses to. FIBA Off-Court Guide: This basketball-focused part is designed to help Players' Mentors understand how success off the court can strengthen player careers and prepare them to take full advantage of the opportunities that may come their way. Individual Assignment: The Players' Mentors prepare an assignment covering the educational landscape in their country. This covers all the opportunities available, such as university/college, professional training, full-time vs. part-time, etc.
FIBA Players' Commission Chair Dirk Nowitzki stated:
It's fantastic that we have been able to train 74 mentors who are all able to make a positive difference to our sport.
"It highlights the success of the program, the commitment and dedication of FIBA in helping National Federations and athletes around the world - as well as the impact the FIBA Players' Commission is having in shaping our sport. However, we also really want to accelerate the number of mentors working worldwide and so we are encouraging even more National Federations to express an interest in the 2025 program," added Nowitzki.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis commented: "It's very satisfying for us to see another 19 mentors getting ready to serve our basketball community and further enrich the sport with their skills and knowledge. It's a testament to FIBA's relentless drive in engaging players and involving them in the governance of our game via the FIBA Players' Commission."
Many younger players around the world will reap the benefits of having a mentor who can assist them on their respective journeys - both on and off the court.
The next edition of the program will tip off later this year in September. For more details on the FIBA Players' Mentorship Program, click here. FIBA