NBA to launch 2012 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programme in India

NBA Press Release: The National Basketball Association (NBA), in collaboration with HP and Basketball Federation of India (BFI), announced that it will launch the 2012 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA basketball development programme in India on May 26, 2012. The programme will reach approximately 10,000 students and 800 coaches in five cities and marks an important step in incorporating basketball into the regular sports routine of Indian youth at the school level.

The program will visit Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune and Chandigarh, and will culminate with the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge National Finals in Delhi on July 14-15. This marks the NBA’s first program in Chandigarh, showcasing the league’s commitment to growing basketball across the country. The NBA has now implemented sustainable grassroots programs in seven cities in India.

BFI and HP will support the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program and enhance the experience for Indian youth throughout the event.

The 2012 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program will tip-off with a two-day ‘Train the Trainer’ programme in each city led by NBA coaches. ‘Train the Trainer’ will feature on-court clinics and classroom sessions for approximately 150 coaches in each of the five cities.

These sessions will feature the NBA’s first-ever Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA India-focused training video. The 75 minute DVD, shot in India with local players, includes videos illustrating fundamental skill development, advanced offensive moves, and fitness training. Each coach attending the ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions will receive a copy of the DVD.

A dedicated Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA microsite on NBA.com/India will provide all coaches and physical education instructors access to videos, photos and other materials to reinforce proper training technique.

At the center of this programme is the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge, which begins with a City Championship tournament in all five cities. Approximately 2,000 participants between the ages of 10-12 in each city will compete in a series of timed skills tests measuring their abilities in key fundamentals such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. The top five boys and top five girls will qualify to represent their city at the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Finals. The boy and girl that complete the skills tests with the best times at the National Finals will be crowned Jr. NBA/Jr. NBA Skills Challenge National Champions and will win a trip to NBA All-Star 2013 in Houston, Texas!

“The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program demonstrates the NBA’s commitment to growing basketball at a grassroots level and will reach more children in its second year as one of the league’s most inclusive programs in India,” said Akash Jain, Sr. Director, Development, NBA India. “Using the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program to educate basketball coaches and instructors is crucial to ensuring quality fundamental skill development in young basketball players across India.”

The first Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program staged in India was the 2008 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Hoops School in Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai. In 2011, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Skills Challenge was held in India for the first time and this year marks the league’s most comprehensive school-based youth program to date.

Schedule of Events

Train the Trainers

• Delhi - May 26-27, Delhi Public School, RK Puram.
• Chennai - June 2-3, JJ Stadium.
• Mumbai - June 6-7, St. Dominic Savio SChool.
• Pune - June 9-10, PYC Gymkhana.
• Chandigarh - July 3-4, New Public School

City Skills Challenge

• Mumbai - June 22, St. Dominic Savio School.
• Pune - June 24, Deccan Gymkhana.
• Chennai - June 28, JJ Stadium.
• Chandigarh - July 6, New Public School.
• Delhi - July 8, IG Stadium.