SINGAPORE - The IBF Youth Leadership Seminar in Singapore on June 22 to 24 witnessed a successful gathering of 16 Youth Leaders from 15 different countries. The workshop’s aim was to give the young leaders the tools to run 3x3 Tournaments as well as develop their leadership skills.

The program was spearheaded by FIBA's Foundation, the International Basketball Foundation (IBF) and focused on helping the Youth Leaders create, develop and organize their own U18 mixed 3x3 qualifying Tournaments that will culminate in the IBF Youth Leadership Basketball Cup in Bali on September 7-10. 

The participants of the IBF Youth Leadership Seminar were also encouraged to think of ways in which they could use basketball as a tool to help their communities and introduce a Basketball For Good component in their basketball tournament.

FIBA Oceania Executive Director, David Crocker and IBF Basketball for Good Associate Theren Bullock Jr. attended the seminar and were pleasantly surprised with the quality of leaders representing their National Federation for the program. 

"The young leaders sent by the 15 National Federations are a great group of people and they all represented their country with class. The way they contributed to the program should make all the countries involved proud," said the amiable Crocker.

"I want to thank everyone involved for their support to program and we look forward to further support in the next stage of this Young Leaders Program," he added.

The participants’ ages ranged from 19-24 years old and the leadership seminar happily noticed that the women outnumbered the men, nine to six.

Mthoko Madonda, former captain of the South African national basketball team, led the leadership skills seminar. He was astonished with how quick the participants were able to work well with each other.

"There are a lot of different things that surprised me, but the main one is how quickly the young people were able to work together and learn from each other. It was encouraging seeing them move out of their comfort zones. I think this will serve them even more when they get back to their communities to run their tournaments," said Madonda.

The youth leaders were given the opportunity to run a local 3x3 Mixed Tournament on their second day at the Australian International School (AIS) in coordination with the Sharks Basketball Club.

"One of the unique elements that we added to this program is the 3x3 Basketball for Good tournament the young leaders had to run a at a local school. It was amazing to see the youths from 15 different countries work together and use the tools they had learned to make this tournament a success. We saw a lot of leadership from each individual," shared Theren Bullock Jr.

The young leaders travelled back to their respective countries inspired and with the hope of creating a difference and effecting a positive change in their own communities by promoting 3x3 basketball, Basketball for Good and giving other youths the chance to realize their potential.

Brunei's Young Leader Ruby Ang's shares her perspective of the Youth Leadership Seminar: