Social media skills given a high priority at players workshop

UDINE/CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI - Participants at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2017 have been given support and advice on the importance of communication from two former international stars as part of a players workshop.

Hungarian guard Kata Honti and Bulgaria's Gergana Branzova, both members of the innovative TIME-OUT initiative, facilitated the sessions for all 16 teams during the first rest day of the tournament in Italy.

Focusing on presentation skills and the need to communicate effectively, the use of social media was at the heart of the workshop and left an impression on those present.

Agnes Torok of Hungary was one of the players who immediately demonstrated its importance and value by taking away some key learnings.

"Listening to the famous players was really interesting and particularly helpful for us," she said. "I think the main message was very much concerned with communication and especially how as athletes, we portray ourselves through social media.

"We need to make sure that our social media posts are appropriate and think about this issue. It was also very inspiring for me and my team-mates to listen to a famous Hungarian player," continued Torok. "We all admired Kata when we were younger and kids - she was an example for us growing up."

Australia standout Eziyoda Magbegor also highlighted the value of the workshop, having attended one last year at the FIBA U17 Women's World Championship.

"It's important to listen to either past or present professionals when you get the chance," she emphasized. "It was interesting to get their views on social media and they explained how communication is one of the foundations of your success. Social media is such an important thing now around the world.

"I don't post many risky things myself, but other players might now think twice before they post something that doesn't offend them, but does offend other people.

"I also think that last year the themes were more general, but the messages were still very powerful and I have tried to think about some of those things alongside developing my basketball skills."

The facilitators also enjoyed the sessions which proved hugely rewarding for them too.

"I wish there had been a workshop like this when I was a young player," enthused Branzova. "We have seen how FIBA is stepping up with many projects around this important issue of the personal development of players. It gives me a positive feeling to be able to possibly change some things through having this interaction with them at the workshop."

Meanwhile Honti added: "I think it went well - even though there are always some barriers with language and some teams being more active on social media than others.

"It was a really enjoyable experience for me as I have only just stopped playing basketball and I am starting this new life with passing on my experiences to young people. It is something which being part of the TIME-OUT project has also helped me with."

The workshop came off the back of a similarly successful initiative at the recent FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Cairo, when Boniface N'Dong and Olumide Oyedeji covered the important topics of obtaining independent and professional financial advice and the concepts of fair play.

Further workshops have been lined up at the FIBA U18 Women's European Championship 2017 in Sopron where Hungary national team captain Zsofia Fegyverneky will talk about career management. There is also an additional workshop taking place in Podgorica at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2017 on the importance of education and preparing for the future.

You can watch the full session of the workshop in Udine below:

FIBA