MUNICH (Germany) - FIBA Europe, supported by the European Union, is launching an exciting new project that will hand opportunities to the next generation of female coaches and referees. 

Based around the concept of exchange and learning mobility, this latest initiative, supported by the EU Preparatory Actions Exchanges and mobility in sport, will help women working in sports organizations to improve their competencies, qualifications and develop their existing skills by spending a period of time in a different country to their own – both inside and outside of the EU.

As part of the program, coaches and referees will be able to participate in a range of different activities, including placements, periods of training and study, plus job shadowing and access to mentoring. A central pillar of the project will be participation in the FIBA European Women's Basketball Summit, which will be organized in Slovenia in 2021 and 2022.

Organized in partnership with the National Federations of Finland, France, Slovenia and Spain, who will provide the expert coaching and referee instructors during the mentoring phase, the program will also include special cooperation with the Serbian Basketball Federation.

FIBA Europe will invite all 50 National Federations to contribute to the selection process by submitting a female coach and refereeing candidate for the project.

FIBA Women's EuroBasket champion Marina Maljkovic will lead the coaching section of the program

Renowned Serbian basketball coach Marina Maljkovic who led her country to their historic maiden FIBA Women's EuroBasket title and a first-ever Olympic appearance and medal will lead the coaching program. Meanwhile her compatriot Jasmina Juras will lead the officiating program as one of only two female FIBA referees who has a black license and can officiate in any FIBA competition - men, women and 3x3.

Leading the officiating program, Jasmina Juras will bring well-rounded experience from various FIBA competitions

"We are incredibly excited about the approval of the EU Exchange & Mobility Funding Program; it is great and important news for us," said FIBA Executive Director Europe, Kamil Novak.

"It's also a very positive sign for all of us during these challenging times, when FIBA Europe providing support and opportunities takes on even more significance.

"We are confident that this latest project will be a big success and will further strengthen our already impressive track record of similar development initiatives that we have launched."

With the EU providing a significant financial grant, the additional co-financing contribution from FIBA Europe provides further evidence of its ongoing commitment to having an effective strategy for its various development programs.

The new project will add value to the ongoing FIBA Europe programs focused on creating clear pathways for women to develop careers in coaching and officiating, while also creating synergies with other active FIBA Europe programs.

Those that have already delivered positive outcomes include the likes of the TIME-OUT initiative, now in its second edition with TIME-OUT 2.0, which has witnessed a number elite basketball players earning BA Honours degrees in Leadership & Management from the Business School of Northumbria University in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile last year, the sixth edition of the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate (FECC) program saw 52 coaches graduate, having taken advantage of the unique opportunity to learn from some of the most renowned experts in the game.

In line with its long-term strategic goals, FIBA Europe has also put a significant emphasis on promoting women's and girls' basketball across Europe with the FIBA Europe Girls' Program (Her World, Her Rules), as well giving great importance to supporting eligible youth basketball projects and participation of youth national teams of the National Federations via the FIBA Europe Youth Development Fund.

FIBA