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More than 2000 Participated for the Reliance Foundation Jr NBA Skill challenge in Kerala concluded at Sports Hub Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram – It’s a fortnight after the NBA India conducted a day-long training session at the Rajeev Gandhi Indoor Stadium for the sports teachers of the region.

The competition is a mini basketball skills challenge for kids of U-12 ,U14 and U16 years of age. with the participation of more than 2000 kids from over 120 schools conducted in three centres of Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Kozhikode.

The first was on 16th January 201 at Kozhikode and second one at S F S School Ground in Ettumanoor. The last which was in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday at the beautiful sports hub Indoor complex with the largest participation of 762 kids

The skills challenges were lead by Sara Gayler the coach from USA and Carla Paloma from Spain who is now assigned with NBA in India joining her at Thiruvananthapuram. Sarah explained what the kids have to do in the five specially designed stations for the workouts.

All the participants were made to go through the five challenges to test their skills on the footwork, lay-up, passing, dribbling and hotshot stations. They enjoyed to dribble, weaving through cones, and shoot for points. The event is a fun and competitive way for children to see how well their basketball skills are developing.

After a player clears all the five skill sections they were given the participation certificate and depending on their performance 24 best players in each centre were respectively awarded merit certificate and an NBA T-shirts. The programme was totally free for all participants.

While explaining the details about the event, Sarah told the gathering of kids and coaches about the NBA India initiative. She said, “The Jr NBA is the league’s youth basketball participation programme that provides a fun environment for kids to learn the fundamentals and values of the game and the skills challenge is an initial initiative in that process.

Carlo Paloma the coach from Spain which was her first visit over Kerala was excited over the enthusiasms and skill of the participants. Sara again added: “The Jr NBA is focused on helping grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.” As the league continues to expand in India, with the first preseason games coming over to India in October the NBA India’s maiden initiative was conducted in three age categories for boys and girls below 16 years.

In Thiruvananthapuram Fr Justin who came all the way from Amboori to participate with the school Kids said that Basketball is his passion and he is grateful for the opportunity his school for the representation in the event.