MANAMA (Bahrain) - The second Asian Mini Basketball Convention took place on 22 and 23 November in Bahrain. Delegates from 25 Asian countries traveled to Manama to take part in the event organized by FIBA's Foundation (IBF) along with FIBA Asia and the Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA), where they learned best practices about Mini Basketball.

“The IBF's Basketball for Good programs is about connecting communities through the power of sport, whether it is a community of nations like this convention or a local community that connection starts by having FUN”- Michael Haynes, Oceania Representative of World Association of Basketball Coaches

 On the first day, the delegates were explained the IBF’s Basketball For Good strategy of how to use Basketball as a tool to initiate positive social change. They were made aware of the potential they had through Mini Basketball to apply this strategy and use Basketball as a vehicle to help their communities.

 Oceania Representative of World Association of Basketball Coaches, Michael Haynes explained the extent to which Mini Basketball benefits societies and why it is so important. He taught the delegates and local coaches how fun and game-based learning were the best practices to attract children and make them enthusiastic about the sport.

"The IBF's Basketball for Good programs is about connecting communities through the power of sport, whether it is a community of nations like this convention or a local community that connection starts by having FUN" said Haynes. "Instead of technique focused drills which can quickly bore kids, we showed delegates how to use fun focused activities to develop first a child's love of being physically active and to experience the excitement of basketball".

 The delegates and 40 local coaches were able to get hands on practice in an interactive coaching where they went through drills themselves and coached a group of kids from a local club preparing for the Jamboree next day.

The Jamboree hosted 250 children from 4 to 12 years old from Bahrain and was organized by the BBA along with the delegates.

"The delegates delivered an amazing Jamboree involving 250 kids and local Bahrain coaches and the delegates had as much as the kids." Said Haynes.

 Each child went home with a basketball donated by Molten to encourage them to keep playing.

11-year-old Mohamed Salman said "I learned how to dribble and play defense in a fun way. I made some new friends and I'm excited to continue playing basketball".

The event ended with each delegate presenting their own plan and vision for the individual jamboree they will organize in their country in 2020.

"I had one of the best weekends in my life" said Hamidullah Samander from Afghanistan. "I wish to pass on what I learned here to my country and make our basketball family grow bigger and bigger".

 The BBA who helped organize the event stated, "we are proud in Bahrain Basketball Association to host the FIBA Asia Mini Basketball Convention 2019 in Bahrain. It was a great opportunity for us and the Bahraini coaches to see and participate in this Convention, we learned a lot from this experience and are happy to host any event aimed to development of world basketball."

FIBA