SAN JUAN (Americas) - FIBA Americas' Youth Committee held its first meeting on Monday March 21, at the Regional Offices of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in the Americas, with the main objective of making basketball more popular, while developing and promoting the sport within the youth.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Youth Committee Mario Mendez (MEX), Vice Chair Mario Ontivero (ARG), members Jay Demings (USA), Victor O’Garro (CAY) and Dawn Smith (CAN), along with observer and President of the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CBB) Carlos Nunes, the President of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Glyne Clark, FIBA Americas President Usie Richards, and FIBA Americas Executive Director Alberto Garcia.

The Committee developed a work plan to ensure that National Federations are prepared to meet the mandates, programs and guidelines required by the Zone for preparing Coaches, Officials and Players to participate in the sport of basketball.

At the same time, the Committee will work towards the implementation of guidelines that will develop a new competition and training structure for National Federations in the development of young players, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number and quality of local competitions and activities within the jurisdiction of National Federations in the efforts of increasing the number of youth basketball players.

"Every member of this committee has the endearing task of consolidating the development of basketball in our zone," said Mendez. "We need to transcend and develop basketball from an early stage to grow the popularity of our sport, while keeping in mind that the future of basketball is at stake in every decision. We must work together for the development basketball."

The Committee concluded its inaugural meeting while agreeing to maintain communication every 90 days.

"The Youth Committee is devoted to the development and creation of a work plan that will increase the participation of our continental youth in basketball. This is a mission of the International Basketball Federation and we are fortunate to have some of the most dedicated individuals in the Americas to the growth of our sport, as members of this Committee with a full commitment towards helping our national federations in the implementation of different programs that will make youth involvement a real possibility. This was a real joy to be able to focus an entire day on how to develop the future participants, that might someday be stars, coaches, stakeholders of basketball in the Americas," concluded FIBA Americas President Usie Richards.

FIBA