MIES (Switzerland) - There were 158 participants and 88 National Federations that just took part in FIBA's Women's Basketball Strategy & Planning webinar held over three days this week.

Women in Basketball is one of FIBA's strategic priorities for 2019-2023, with the aim to increase the role of females at all levels of the sport. The challenge set is for federations themselves to fulfill this objective within their own organizations. This webinar was created to provide participating federations with various tools and recommendations on individual strategies and also current case studies from the industry.  

The webinar was conducted on May 30, May 31 and June 1, and focused on strategic planning and project management. FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis delivered the welcoming speech.  

Zagklis said: "Women in Basketball was included by the FIBA Congress in 2019 as a strategic pillar for the first time in our history, but of course, Women in Basketball is much more than a strategic pillar. It is a priority and a necessity for the growth of our sport."

Zagklis encouraged all webinar attendees to work together, learn from each other and continue the work that has been done so far on further growing and developing the women's game.

Case studies on strategic planning were presented by Lauren Jackson, one of the greatest players in the history of the sport and now Head of Women in Basketball with Basketball Australia, and Canada Basketball's Ron Yeong who is currently Director of Development of 3x3 and Domestic Basketball.

Lauren Jackson at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2006

As for project management, participants listened to presentations from Karine Naji Sports Event Coordinator for Lebanon Basketball and Lisa Van Ranst of Basketball Belgium's Project Coordinator of Sport and Events.

Among other topics were FIBA's Women in Basketball strategy – the Roadmap, Action Plan and Timeline, and a review of FIBA's successful Her World, Her Rules Girls program.

Created by FIBA Europe in 2018 to get more girls aged six to 15 playing basketball and using social media, the Her World, Her Rules program promotes women and girls basketball through various activities delivered in partnership with National Federations.

In 2021, for example, more than 70 successful projects were launched and executed globally across FIBA's regions, with TCL, FIBA's Global Partner, supporting the program as well. 

Working in tandem with the Her World, Her Rules campaign, TCL recently launched the initiative 'Break & Believe' to further boost women's basketball and increase the participation of girls in the sport.

FIBA