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Sports / Qatar Sport

Schools ideal setting to foster love for basketball, says expert

Published: 12 Jun 2023 - 08:32 am | Last Updated: 12 Jun 2023 - 10:03 am
Peninsula

Mohamad Bwary | The Peninsula

Doha: Qatar recently was awarded the hosting rights for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, but the sport itself is currently not a popular one in the country. The less popularity of basketball in the country as compared to other sports begs the question: What factors have contributed to this disparity?

In an interview with The Peninsula, International Basketball Federation (FIBA) agent in Qatar Walid Haitham Yamout discussed the reasons and the impact of academies and associated local championships in basketball’s popularity.


Walid Haitham Yamout

As a highly trained basketball coach with extensive experience, obtaining training certificates from FIBA Europe and Lebanese Basketball Federation, Yamout holds a master’s degree in Sports Management and leadership from Cardiff University. He is also the co-founder of Oryx Sports Management.

Yamout said Qatar’s successful bid to host the 2027 FIBA World Cup has sparked numerous ideas to promote the game in the country.

“One of the key strategies to generate greater enthusiasm for basketball in Qatar is to concentrate on school students. We are in the process of developing a comprehensive program to train and promote the sport extensively in schools. We will present this proposal to the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), with whom we have already signed an agreement to organise tournaments for all age groups and oversee all aspects of some basketball tournaments,” said Yamout.  

When asked about upcoming tournaments, Yamout revealed his management is currently working on organising a 3x3 tournament in schools as a means to expand the reach of the game and facilitate free training courses in multiple educational institutions. The aim is to instill love for basketball in children and familiarise them with the rules and intricacies of the sport. He acknowledged that basketball lacks the same level of interest in Qatar as football or handball, and these initiatives aim to change that perception.

The FIBA official emphasised that schools provide the ideal foundation for fostering a passion for basketball. Accordingly, necessary permissions will be obtained to engage with schools and offer complimentary training sessions to students. The objective is to encourage regular participation in the basketball and enhance its popularity leading up to the hosting of the FIBA 2027 World Cup.

He further added that the initial steps towards these endeavours were taken with the King of the Court tournament held at Laguna Mall. Moving forward, there are plans to collaborate with the QBF to organise 3x3 tournaments and various age-group tournaments. These initiatives are expected to contribute significantly to the growing popularity of basketball leading up to the FIBA World Cup.

Furthermore, the Oryx Sports Management Academy has rapidly gained momentum and attracted numerous basketball enthusiasts.

Alongside basketball, there are plans underway to establish a football academy. The company also engages in a variety of activities, organising numerous sports events in addition to academies and after-school programs.

Yamout also added that one of their notable accomplishments involved organizing the Ramadan tournaments at Aspire. These tournaments included events like the beach volleyball tournament and the basketball tournament held during Ramadan, all under the sponsorship of Aspire.

He confirmed that their primary training sessions are currently being held at the Michael E. DeBakey High School court. These training courses for various age groups comprise individuals from diverse nationalities who reside in Qatar.

Discussing the training techniques, Yamout highlighted that academy’s training programs encompass several stages. For children aged 4 to 7 years, the focus lies on ball control and fundamental skills to help them adapt to basketball. Moving to the higher stages, from 8 to 12 years, they implement a beginner and advanced program that covers passing, shooting techniques, different shot types, and dribbling with both right and left hands.

For individuals aged 13 to 17 years, two distinct programs are offered: the Rookies program and the Elite Ballers program. The Rookies program teaches advanced basketball skills, including ball handling, movement on and off the ball, while the Elite program, regarded as their most intensive, emphasizes advanced basketball skills, playing 5-on-5, defensive and offensive strategies, and finishing techniques around the basket.

Additionally, there is a dedicated program for individuals aged 18 and over, focusing on advanced 5-on-5 gameplay.

Furthermore, the Academy operates a scholarship system in collaboration with universities in the United States and Canada. They assess applications jointly with schools and overseas universities, considering both basketball performance and academic grades. Based on these evaluations, scholarships are awarded either fully or partially.