FIBA Foundation and FIBA Africa pushing the Mini Basketball movement in Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM (Tanzania) - With the support of the FIBA's Regional Office of Africa and the FIBA Foundation, the fifth edition of the annual Mini Basketball Convention in Africa took place from 23 to 25 November 2023.

Following a successful 2022 edition, in Mauritania, the Tanzania Basketball Federation hosted this year's Convention with the help of 19 delegates from 16 African countries. The goal of the event was to promote playful grassroots basketball for children aged 5 to 12 years and raise awareness about the importance of good health and well-being in a stimulating and playful environment.

Among the delegates, multiple applicants from the FIBA Foundation Propose a Project initiative were in attendance. With the learnings of the event, the delegation is now equipped with additional tools to further develop their respective projects.

In addition, the 50 participating local coaches also took part in a workshop mixing practical and theoretical sessions to learn how to better engage with the youths.

Together, the delegates and coaches put together a very memorable convention for the 250 children who showed up over the three days.

Jean Michel Ramorossan, Member of FIBA Central Board, further emphasized: "The objective of the Mini Basketball Convention is to share knowledge with the children which allows them to dream. We have coaches and delegates coming from all over Africa to guide them. Basketball is one of Africa's few disciplines with a coherent youth development program thanks to the work of FIBA Africa and the FIBA Foundation.

Michael Kadebe, President of the Tanzanian Basketball Federation, highlighted the importance of the Convention for the local coaches: " This event is very important for the local coaches as it is different from regular coaching clinics, making it more challenging for them.  They all have different backgrounds and knowledge so they can share their experience with their peer. In addition, they have the support of the international delegates who advise them on how to further develop grassroots basketball."

The FIBA Foundation, the FIBA Regional Offices, and respective National Federations will keep working together every year to organize regional Mini Basketball Conventions around the globe and to expand the Mini Basketball Movement. This program allows the development of grassroots basketball within different regions with an exciting and playful approach for the children.

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About Mini Basketball:

The FIBA Foundation’s Mini Basketball program is a global Basketball For Good initiative to improve health and well-being of 5-12 year old children and to fight physical inactivity and childhood obesity. It is an inclusive grassroots basketball movement addressed to girls and boys and their parents and uses fun & game-based learning.

FIBA