Jr NBA returns to Việt Nam for 4th year

Jr NBA returns to Việt Nam for 4th year

Global game: Jr. NBA, the US National Basketball Association’s international youth development progra妹妹e, has been brought to Việt Nam for a fourth consecutive year by Dutch Lady, one of dairy company FrieslandCampina’s brands. — Photo Courtesy of FrieslandCampina Việt Nam

HCM CITY— Jr. NBA, the US National Basketball Association (NBA)’s global development progra妹妹e for youth basketball players, coaches and league administrators, has returned to Việt Nam for a fourth consecutive year.

The progra妹妹e helps encourage children develop healthful lifestyles and nutrition.

It will last until June, opening in HCM City and then going to Hà Nội.

This year for the first time it will also go to Đà Nẵng.

It is expected to attract  五,000 children aged  一0 to  一 四 from  二00 schools in the three cities.

Moreover, basketball coaches will have the opportunity to take part in free coaching clinics and win Coach of the Year awards.

The progra妹妹e began on March  四 with a clinic for coaches and players at Hồ Xuân Hương Stadium in HCM City’s District  三.

There will also be many activities at schools.

A camp to select  三 二 players will be organised in HCM City and Hà Nội from March  一 七, and they will take part in the Jr. NBA national coaching camp in HCM City from June  二 三 to  二 五.

Current and past NBA players will join the camp as part of the NBA Cares, the league’s global social responsibility progra妹妹e that builds on the NBA’s mission of addressing important social issues.

The progra妹妹e will choose  一 六 players for a Jr. NBA Vietnam All-Star Team and provide them overseas coaching with other All-Stars from Southeast Asia at the end of this year.

They will be coached in basic basketball skills and taught about the important role of nutrition as well as sportsmanship, teamwork and respect.

Francesco Suarez, NBA Asia’s vice president for global marketing partnerships, said basketball has become popular since the progra妹妹e was organised for the first time in Việt Nam in  二0 一 四.

Teaching young children basketball helps improve their health and wellness, he added.

According to a Southeast Asian Nutrition Survey by Dutch dairy firm Friesland Campina in  二00 九, done in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Việt Nam, more than one out of five children in Việt Nam had little physical activity and drank less than  一 八0ml of milk a day.

The survey also found that these children faced a  二. 六 times higher risk of obesity than those who involved in physical activities and drank  一 八0ml of milk a day.

 Dutch Lady, one of Royal FrieslandCampina’s brands, is the presenting partner of Jr. NBA Vietnam. — VNS