NBA announces Jr NBA/Jr WNBA Hoop School in India

NI Wire

New Delhi

Thu, 06 Nov 2008: 

The National Basketball Association on Thursday (November 6) announced the launch of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Hoop School, a new grassroots program designed to promote education, basketball participation and an active lifestyle among children in India.

The five-week program will tip off in Delhi Nov. 6 to 8 d will continue with clinics in Bangalore, Nov.

10 to 12 and Mumbai, Nov. 14 to 16. In addition to the clinics, more than 600 local schools throughout India will receive coaching guides, posters and educational materials providing the training and resources necessary to continue to grow the game of basketball.

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Hoop School is designed for Indian boys and girls ages 8 to 16. The five-week program is comprised of coaching clinics led by NBA Legend Robert Parish, educational seminars with Tata Consultancy Services, and weekly youth basketball clinics for each participating school. Each city’s Hoop School will culminate in December with a basketball tournament featuring 20 to 25 local schools.

“The debut of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Hoop School is a critical milestone in our ongoing efforts to grow the game of basketball throughout India,” said Heidi Ueberroth, NBA President, Global Marketing Partnerships and International Business Operations. “The incredible response from the schools, our partners and the community is an exciting sign of their commitment to the long-term growth of the game.”

The program is being launched in association with ESPN Star Sports’ (ESS) Learning Ground School Program and Tata Consultancy Services. ESS will provide exclusive coverage of the event and promote the program in schools, on-air and online. Tata Consultancy Services will conduct the technology education seminars throughout select schools, as well as provide all participants with educational software. Spalding, the official game ball of the NBA, will provide the basketballs that will be used at all participating schools.

“We look forward to the tip off of this groundbreaking program,” said Harish Sharma, Secretary General, Basketball Federation of India. “Indian youth will get an extraordinary opportunity to learn from professionals and it will be a key milestone for the growth of grassroots basketball in our country.”