The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Basketball Federation of Bhutan sets up training camps during students’ breaks to try and get the interested participants involved with the game of Basketball. Training camps were previously only held in Thimphu but last winter, the Basketball Federation set up training camps in Paro, Wangdue Phodrang, Gelephu, Samtse and Phuentsholing which set a new trend for the training camps.
Similarly, this summer sees the training camp start in Thimphu before moving to Gasa, Tsirang, Punakha and Dagana.
Coach Dechen Phurba said that the trend of setting up training camps in dzongkhag will continue with other dzongkhags being looked at in the winter break.
This year’s summer camp begins on the 13th of July and ends on the 19th in Thimphu and the coaches then move onto the other dzongkhags from the 20th. The Basketball Federation remain thoroughly pleased to always see good turnouts in these training camps with the number of participants usually in the 100s.
FIBA, the international basketball federation has also recently introduced the Ball’In Schools program which aims to strengthen the grassroots of Basketball in the country. “Bhutan was the first country to be selected for this program and we should consider ourselves very lucky,” said coach Dechen.
The Ball’In School program initially started in Thimphu, with two coaches from FIBA who started the program but the Basketball Federation of Bhutan intends to expand to other Dzongkhags starting this summer in Gasa, Tsirang, Punakha and Dagana with the Ball’In Schools program being set up with the summer camps.
“The summer camp teaches the players all about the fundamentals, but the Ball’In School program is targeted at teaching kids the fun in playing basketball,” said Coach Dechen.
Coach Dechen also encouraged all interested players to take up the opportunity of summer camps and other future training camps that are provided for free by the Basketball Federation.
“There are many basketball players in the country, who have a lot of interest in the sport but they do not know the do’s and don’ts of the game like fouls and violations. The Basketball Federation set up free camps which help players understand these rules” Coach Dechen added.
