BFI Youth Basketball Clinic - February 25, 2012

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) conducted a youth basketball clinic, under the helm of India’s Senior Men’s coach Kenny Natt, India’s Senior Women’s coach Pete Gaudet and Zak Penwell (National Team Strength and Conditioning Coach) on Saturday, February 25^th, from 10.30 am-11.45 am at Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi.

Offered to all interested participants who were within the ages of 9 and 17, the clinic was designed to introduce the basic fundamentals of basketball along with teaching the technical aspects of developing essential skills such as; pre-practice preparation exercises; ball-handling; passing; shooting techniques, plus offensive and defensive footwork drills.  Additionally, youth participants received valuable knowledge for improving their overall mental and physical fitness by learning ways for developing a much healthier nutritional dietary regiment.  Young student-athletes who develop better eating habits have shown dramatic performances improvements both on and off the court, academically and athletically.

 “Under the guidance of Coach Kenny Natt, Pete Gaudet and Zak Penwell the youth basketball clinic and various other programmes initiated by BFI will play a critical role in helping us achieve our vision of growing basketball in India by developing and showcasing the best player and coaching talent in the country,” commented BFI spokesperson.

Parents were encouraged to bring their young hoopsters out to take part in a fun and exciting basketball learning experience which afforded them opportunities to meet and mingle one-on-one with the nation’s top senior men and women players.  It provided them excellent opportunity to take personal photos and signed autographs from the players.

India’s Senior Men’s Coach Kenny Natt said “This is an excellent platform to mould and shape future basketball talent in India as well as encourage teamwork skills and healthy living. “

Following the clinic, participants were invited to watch the Men’s U-18 FIBA Middle Asia Zone Qualifying Match for 22nd FIBA Asia U 18 Championship between India and Sri Lanka at 12:00 PM.

The programme included:

·         Introductions and lectures by both Kenny Natt, India’s Senior Men’s coach and Pete Gaudet  India’s Senior Women’s coach, on basketball and improving on and off the court

·         Basic fundamental drills (with instruction provided by current Senior Men and Women National Camp players)

·         Individual skills training (instruction provided by current Senior Men and Women National Camp players)

·         Participants were provided with BFI t-shirts, basketball notebooks and pens.

About Basketball Federation of India (BFI)

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI), which came into being in 1950, is the governing and controlling body of basketball in India, responsible for the development and promotion of the sport at all levels. BFI oversees all the national level basketball operations in India. It is involved in organising camps, national tournaments, and preparing Indian teams for both men and women international competitions in several different age levels.