Doha: The Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) organized the inaugural basketball coaching workshop on Sunday.
The event, held in collaboration with the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (QOSM) and physical education teachers at public schools, was intended to hone coaching skills and identify developing talent at an early age, bringing together Italian basketball club Reyer Venezia Mestre.
It was attended by a pantheon of Qatari basketball officials, coaches of the men's and women's national teams and youth teams, alongside several officials from the Italian club.
The workshop marked an opportunity to share expertise and keep attendees in the loop on state-of-the-art techniques for advancing players across various age groups.
Director of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum Abdulla Yousuf Al Mulla welcomed the participants and affirmed the significance of this initiative in supporting efforts to explore developing talent and bolster students' capabilities in this sport.
This initiative indeed enhances cooperation among sports and educational institutions, Al Mulla said, stating that it helps create an appropriate environment to motivate students to practice basketball and strengthen their skills at an early age.
The agenda comprised a combination of coaching techniques and practical training that focused on identifying students who demonstrate emerging skills, thereby helping build a broader pool of talented players in the sport.
The program further included a tour of Aspire Academy to pursue practical training and capitalize on professional expertise and potential in enhancing players' skills across different age groups.
Starting Monday through Wednesday, the initiative will transition to talent exploration targeting fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students, who are typically between 9 and 12 years old, through field visits to public elementary schools.
The list of participating schools includes 14 elementary schools for boys and girls, with 44 teachers from the targeted schools taking part in the initiative.
The targeted grades include fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students, in accordance with each school's approved program.
The talent identification process is being carried out in collaboration between Italian basketball club Reyer Venezia Mestre, QBF and physical education teachers at the participating schools.
Students' performance and abilities in the game's basic skills will be monitored, with a view to following up on those who demonstrate exceptional potential throughout the program's various stages.
The monitoring and selection process will continue throughout the year, culminating in the selection of a group of talented students from the participating schools.
Those selected will join training programs organized by QBF to refine their technical and physical skills, strengthen teamwork and provide a training pathway to help them continue developing as basketball players.
The program will culminate in a tournament in April 2027, bringing together students who have been shortlisted throughout the exploration phase and offering them an opportunity to compete and apply the skills they have developed. Those who finish in the top three will be recognized at the conclusion of the tournament.
The initiative is an outgrowth of QBF's strategy to expand the practice of basketball and promote its presence in schools, thereby contributing to the development of a new generation of players and supporting the growth of Qatari basketball.
The program grew out of the federation's efforts to expand the sport's presence in schools and identify and develop promising young talent.
