Smiles all the way as African Mini Basketball Convention ends in Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT (Mauritania) - The expression on the faces of the 400 children that participated in the 4th edition of the African Mini Basketball Convention was a clear indication that the program remains one not to forget.

The program which ran from 24 to 27 November 2022 was hosted by the National Federation of Mauritania and organized by FIBA's Regional Office – Africa with the support of the FIBA Foundation. The convention was rewarding for 200 boys and 200 girls from 8 to 12 years old, 20 invited coaches from 20 African countries, and 50 local coaches that were in attendance.

Aside from the kids starting their lifelong journey of being basketball citizens, the coaches were given tips on how to communicate with the young children in a way to infuse fun and include game-based learning. Several sessions and games were designed for the kids to put in practice what they had learned.

"Mini basketball is the foundation of development, so the first step in any development program until you detect, and develop talent. We do this through fun exercises to allow children to discover, play, love, and especially stay in basketball by taking seriously certain important sectors of their lives such as education" said Jean Michel Ramaroson, president of FIBA Africa development council

One of the participants of the African Mini Basketball Convention, Larissa Maaz from Mauritania, who is 11 years old said in an interview what she liked most about basketball is to have fun and winning noting that she started playing basketball when she was 8 years old with the Kamara Basketball Academy. "Basketball helps me to get entertained and also allows me to be stress-free because in school, I think about getting good grades and when you come to basketball, it brings me a lot of happiness."

The flow and rhythm that ruled the atmosphere were such that all the participants wished for the program to continue for a few more days. This positive environment will continue to flow outside of Mauritania as the coaches were able to gain specific tools, which will help them expand and unify the Mini Basketball movement in their respective countries in alignment with their National Federation.

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