BAOJI CITY (China) - The first FIBA Mini Basketball Coaches Course has been officially launched in Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, China.

The course is sponsored by FIBA's Regional Office China and the Beijing Enterprises Group Company Limited (BG) and is supported by both the Shaanxi Basketball Association and Beijing BG Culture & Sports Company Limited. It also has strong backing from the Basketball Administration Center of General Administration of Sports of China and the Chinese Basketball Association.

The FIBA Mini Basketball Coaches Course is designed for coaches that are older than 18 and focuses on training kids between the ages of 5 to 12. The course has been developed to help coaches guide children's interest and enthusiasm in basketball, and cultivate correct basketball habits.

Ren Xiaokang, Director of the Baoji Municipal Sports Bureau, said at the ceremony: "Basketball is a very popular sport for the public, with various forms of exercise, strong participation, entertainment, and competition involved. People from different groups can gain physical and mental strength from basketball. Different regions and countries can build bridges of friendship through basketball."

Wang Libin, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association and 
Chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Basketball Association

Wang Libin, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association and Chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Basketball Association, said: "I hope that all the students will further develop their skills through this course, learn new things, and gain new knowledge from the instructors."

Milan Opacic, World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC) Executive Committee member and FIBA BG Academy Technical Director, is the head instructor of this course. The training includes a two-day online course and a four-day in-person course, which cover 73 topics, and all of which are taught by FIBA instructors and special guest speakers.

Milan Opacic, Head Instructor of the FIBA Mini Basketball Coaches Course in Baoji City

The FIBA BG Basketball Academy integrates international basketball resources within its curriculum and strives to cultivate outstanding basketball talents in order to help the development of Chinese basketball throughout the country.

As the FIBA BG Basketball Academy begins to launch courses nationwide, more mini-level basketball coaches will be able to participate in the programs offered. These coaches will have the opportunity to learn leading basketball concepts and experience professional teaching skills from international FIBA instructors and in turn, help create the foundation of Chinese youth basketball in the future.

FIBA