Proj3kt 3on3 up and running in the face of cuts
This week hasn’t gotten off to a great start for all those involved in British basketball, but there was a brighter cloud on the horizon, and steps forward in the development of the game on these shores with the roll out of Proj3kt 3on3.
Thanks to previous funds from Sport England, the BBL Foundation today announced some positive news in regards to the short form of the game, what its future hopes are, and the various ways to get involved with it.
Proj3kt 3on3, the BBL Foundation’s pilot programme launched just two months ago in partnership with Sport England, has tipped off with an encouraging set of attendance figures. The programme designed to test ways of engaging boys and girls in the key 16-19 year old age bracket, has seen over 2000 attendees in the first two months it has been running.
It uses a programme of 3on3 basketball participation activities across a number of locations throughout England delivered by BBL clubs. And with world governing body FIBA hoping the 3on3 version of the game will become an Olympic sport in its own right at Rio 2016 it is seen as an ideal way to introduce young people to the sport in England.
At the time of the award announcement for Proj3kt 3on3 in October, Sport England Director of Sport Phil Smith said: “This investment will open up more opportunities for young people to get involved in this great sport and build on the momentum created by the inspiring summer of Olympic and Paralympic sport. We know many young people are interested in playing basketball and this partnership will help us understand more about the best ways to turn interest into participation and then keep them coming back week after week.”
BBL Foundation COO Gary Atyes commented on the figures by stating: “We are very encouraged by the initial success the programme is having and the way the BBL clubs involved have seized the opportunity to build on the positive momentum of London 2012 and motivating young people to play sport.”
The BBL Foundation have this week launched a new video and website to promote the second part of the campaign starting in January, which will see regional weekend tournaments with prizes, giveaways and music, adding to the current regular sessions being run across England. These regional tournament winners will get chance to play in the finals on the 9th of March in front of a large crowd at the Commonwealth Games Arena, which plays host to the BBL Challenge Trophy.
Want to find out more? Check out www.proj3kt3on3.co.uk
