Aruba celebrates Mini Basketball Month with their annual Basketball Jamboree
Using FIBA’s official Mini Basketball Month, October, the Aruba Basketball Bond celebrated their annual Basketball Jamboree for children ages 6 to 12.
ORANJESTAD (Aruba) – Using FIBA’s official Mini Basketball Month, October, the Aruba Basketball Bond celebrated their annual Basketball Jamboree for children ages 6 to 12.
Around 40 boys and girls attended the court at Colegio Playa to receive basketball workshops about the fundamentals of the game and, above all, to make new friends, learn new skills and have a fun, sports-filled day.
Bolstering a grassroots development is one of the priorities for recently elected president, Kenny Vrolijk, who was vice-president of the Federation since 2017.
“Our goal is to connect Aruba with our neighboring islands and also with FIBA Americas,” said Vrolijk to FIBA.basketball. “This is why we're making an effort on youth development. We're one of the few islands in the Caribbean that frequently holds Mini activities.”
“We’ll start to focus a bit more in the adult level because the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championship is coming in 2020,” added Vrolijk.
Among the Federation's plans is the development of coaches, referees, and table officials, something that, according to Vrolijk, is paramount to develop players in the league and in local initiatives.
“I want to develop all coaches in the island. That's why I sent a request to host a FIBA Level 1 and 2 (workshop) this next year,” explained Vrolijk. “And to organize another FIBA workshop for referees and table officials. Coaches and officials that are structured better will result in athletes that are more effective and developed, and that's what I want to achieve.”
For the new President, who was also appointed by FIBA as a member of the National Federations Development Committee, this experience will grant him the tools to continue the progress set forth by previous Aruba Federation President, Valeska Milton, who's currently the Secretary General of the federation.
“Working with the National Olympic Committee and now, as a member of the FIBA National Federations Development Committee, will give me the knowledge I seek to keep developing the league in the island with the rest of the Committee.”
FIBA