The Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA's) core focus on youth development got a major boost on Thursday [January 5] with the official launch of its mini national programme.
The programme, which will involve boys and girls, aged 7 to 13, from across the country, is being rolled out in two phases starting with a three day coaching seminar on Thursday through to Saturday [January 7] at the
University of Technology.
The initiative is being sponsored by the US Embassy to the tune of US$15,000 or approximately J$1.3 million.
Several local coaches were in attendance on the opening day of the seminar being conducted by renowned US high school coach and skills developer Stan Brudish.
It is these coaches who will administer the curriculum to the children, developed by JaBA's national youth co-coordinator Alf Remekie.
The clinics which will be held on weekends will see 10 clusters with each having 100 youngsters drawn from JaBA's five conferences.
Among the coaches in attendance at Thursday's opening day of the seminar was JaBA's Vice President Michael Stephenson.
Over the next few weeks, JaBA's technical officials from across the country will choose children from the various conferences to be enrolled in the programme.
The clinics will start in the first week of February and will be held on alternate Saturdays and Sundays over a four month period.
The mini programme will subsequently be extended into a rally and national tournament.