The Basketball Federation of India, or BFI, is the governing body of basketball in India, responsible for the development and promotion of the sport at all levels throughout India. While the Basketball Federation of India is fairly proactive at creating basketball opportunities at the top end of the game, there still lies a real lack of opportunities for young basketball players to play and be coached in the sport, particularly in the poorer communities and slum areas. By volunteering as a basketball coach in India, you will be able to give more aspiring basketball players the chance to play the sport they love by running basketball coaching sessions and basketball matches in the local community.

 

Our basketball coaches come from a variety of coaching and playing backgrounds. The focus is not on creating India’s next big basketball star, but rather on creating basketball opportunities for hundreds of children in the schools and slum areas. Although recognised coaching qualifications are beneficial, are main goal is to find enthusiastic volunteers who have had some experience playing or coaching basketball at a reasonable level. You will start by working in local Indian schools. Access to sports is very limited here and you will be able to make a big impact through the organised basketball coaching activities you provide. The students and teaching staff get very excited about receiving our basketball coaches, so you won’t be short of eager participates! From the schools, you will volunteer in the slum areas where you will, once again, find plenty of enthusiastic players, many of whom have never played as part of an organised team.

 

The first part of your basketball coaching role will be to run introductory sessions in local schools. This will help you assess the ability of your basketball players. It will also give you a chance to get to know them in a fun, relaxed environment. The second part of your basketball coaching role will be to organise regular coaching classes and basketball matches in the schools. The structure and competitive environment you create is extremely valuable for the children, fostering team working, sportsmanship and a strong sense of belonging. You will soon realise how much valuable knowledge you possess and how quickly your players can improve by introducing basic position holding, dribbling and passing techniques, as well as effective drills in shooting and movement. You will also have plenty of support from our in-country team and other volunteers if you ever need some inspiration for a coaching session.

 

The other key part of the project will be to coach basketball to children in the slum areas. Your role will be to provide basketball coaching sessions and organised basketball matches for many of the children who would otherwise not get to play. Again, by introducing some structure to basketball matches, the young players will show great improvement. And as your confidence grows, you will have the flexibility to introduce your own ideas to your coaching sessions.

 

The final part of your basketball placement will be to help improve or repair sports facilities in the local community. Not only does this provide better access to sports for Indian children, it helps to generate a real sense of pride in the community. Building or renovating local sports facilities is also a great way of leaving something tangible behind once your basketball project finishes.

 

A basketball gap year in India is a fantastic way to combine gap year basketball coaching in India with gap year volunteering in India. Not only will a gap year in India allow you to experience gap year travel, you will meet other gap year travellers and gap year volunteers. You are sure to return home from your basketball gap year in India with great friends and unforgettable gap year memories.