MIES (Switzerland) - Over the past 3 years the FIBA Foundation has pioneered Mini Basketball Conventions in all regions of the world, directly sharing knowledge with 150 delegates from 150 countries and indirectly impacting thousands of children.

These Conventions promoted and stimulated playful grassroots basketball for 5 – 12-year-olds of both genders by educating on the importance of Mini Basketball as a grassroots movement and a tool to promote good health and well-being and game-based learning. Our main objective was giving Mini Basketball experts within our Member Federations the tools to help attract and introduce children to the game while keeping them active with fun and playful activities through practical and theoretical sessions.

In a second phase, in addition to continued education and exchange of best practice, we will mentor experts and assist them to grow or implement Mini Basketball programs within their countries if a program does not yet exist. We will encourage the participants to share the knowledge with their colleagues in their country. We promote this “teach the teacher” approach to multiply the impact within our membership.

The need to adapt the current program in new effective and innovative ways was influenced by the current travel restrictions, but also by the objective to support the global Mini Basketball community in a more cost-efficient way. The FIBA Foundation is now bringing delegates together virtually to keep them connected, by developing an online program for monthly 2–hour sessions throughout the year.

The pilot program is being launched today and will involve 24 different Spanish and Portuguese speaking National Federations from the Americas, Africa and Europe. In order to obtain gender balance amongst the participants, one female and one male delegate from each National Federation has been invited. Interactivity amongst the participants will be stimulated through outbreak sessions, where participants will discuss relevant themes.

The seminar will be led by Mini Basketball expert Sergio Lara-Bercial from Spain and assisted by experts from the regional offices in Africa and the Americas.

“Mini Basketball is primarily about the needs of children” says FIBA Foundation President Horacio Muratore. “Seeing the children in action, we can feel their desire to have fun. With this initiative we would like to promote the importance of children enjoying themselves while playing basketball and learning how to lead a healthy lifestyle.”