Mini Basketball seminars in Oceania and South East Asia praised by participants

GOLD COAST (Australia) - The Virtual Mini Basketball Seminar in Oceania and South East Asia concluded this week, with over 20 National Federations participating in the six-part series.

The virtual sessions focused on teaching and developing a Mini Basketball Program that includes basketball as a tool for social change. They are also guided on how to unify stakeholders to amplify the Mini Basketball activities in their respective countries and strengthen the social impact.

Forward Pivot Founder, Darren Anderson, and former Basketball Australia Community Basketball Manager spearheaded the discussions with representatives from Basketball Australia, Basketball New Zealand, the FIBA Office in Singapore and FIBA Oceania helping out as moderators.

"I’m always impressed by the passion of the Mini Basketball community in Oceania and South East Asia, and their generosity in sharing ideas and experiences. It gave the forums great energy and momentum which is not easy to achieve via Zoom," shared Anderson.

"The six-part format allowed us to dive beyond the on-court aspects of Mini Basketball and consider the range of off-court elements that contribute to a successful Mini Basketball program, which delegates seemed to enjoy," he added.

Basketball Fiji's National Basketball Development Officer for Lautoka, Lanieta Baleiono shared her enthusiasm about the program and how it has helped her as an individual in planning their future Mini Basketball programs.

"It's a privilege that I am part of these sessions, it's not every day someone gets to be picked to be part of these kinds of seminars and I enjoyed the online sessions," she said. "We have learned a lot during the seminars and we are excited to apply those learnings into our future programs."

Baleiono also commended the breakout rooms format that made it possible for the participants and moderators to engage in a more active interaction forum during the session.

"The breakout rooms were amazing, we had turns in talking its a really good thing I get to discuss topics with people from other countries and learn from them as well," she added.

FIBA and the FIBA Foundation hope that this program will empower National Federations to enhance their Mini-Basketball activities, and apply Basketball For Good messaging into their programs. The delegates will now be accompanied along their journey of creating programs as a result of the Seminar and the impact it will continue to create in communities throughout the region.

About Mini Basketball:

The FIBA Foundation’s Mini Basketball program is a global Basketball For Good initiative to improve the 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. Please contact us if you want to know more about our programs or if you are interested to work with us.

 FIBA