Events:
Primary Schools Basketball Development Scheme
Introduction
Mutare-Haarlem Sportleaders Programme is dedicated in organising the Primary Schools Basketball Development Scheme bringing basic skills of basketball to primary schools pupils in Mutare. This initiative has been running for the past three years, between May – June. The development programme aims to identify and develop talent at a tender age to create a broad foundation for basketball in the City of Mutare. The National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) responsible for basketball will be requested to adopt this development project and to be involved from the start.
Last year 13 primary schools were involved from different suburbs and Sportleaders have played a role in coaching the children in preparations of the tournaments. On the 16th June tournaments were held in 4 suburbs and on the 28th June the final tournament was held. Prizes were given not in cash but in basketball equipment that will further develop the game. Next year we are expecting more schools to take part and we are also going to look for more sponsorship.
Scheme operational framework
The project will be implemented in a tournament form. It will start by organising tournaments in the three suburbs as preliminary games. From the suburbs tournaments first and second position teams will qualify for the finals. The schools in town are clustered with those in Chikanga suburb.
In preparation for the tournament the Sportleaders and some other interested community basketball coaches will identify a central school with basketball facilities as the centre for training sessions. Therefore, the schools will be asked to bring interested pupils (at least 12 boys and 12 girls) to come to basketball training sessions once or twice a week depending on the schools needs per suburb. These training sessions are the most important component of this project because they provide basic skills, physical exercises and the games language to the children.
As we mentioned the NAPH Heads will be involved in communicating with the schools. The Resource Teachers in the different suburbs/clusters will also be incorporated to make sure they regard the project as theirs and not only for the Mutare-Haarlem Sportleaders.