Dublin Primary Schools Mini-Basketball takes a novel approach to implementing a child appropriate approach to primary school sport.
35 Finals of the Dublin Primary Schools Mini-Basketball League are taking place in the National Basketball Arena finishing on Tuesday 28th November.
70 school teams were clustered in groups of no more than five schools and played one another once. They were then ranked 1, 2, 3 etc. in their cluster. The Dublin Primary Schools Mini-Basketball Board then paired 1s, 2s, 3s etc. for Finals in the National Basketball Arena.
So all participants play in the league and get a Final at their own level.
Each school team also brings two table officials and schools were sent a child-friendly scoresheet with guidelines in advance.
In all over 800 children are playing and 70 children are officiating.
All children participate in two quarters with no child playing more than two quarters. All children are awarded a League participation medal and the winning schools are presented with a trophy.
Over 1,500 supporters are enjoying the occasion – most visiting the Arena for the first time.
The Dublin Officials Association is providing referees, and Commissioners oversee the event each day.
This imaginative approach is in keeping with the ethos of the Primary Schools’ Mini-Basketball as outlined in the PSMNC brochure which can be downloaded from www.basketballireland.ie Primary Schools.
The ethos is defined in the PSMNC brochure as “enabling children to learn, play and enjoy basketball in a supportive environment”. Furthermore the brochure goes on to emphasise the “importance of age appropriate fundamental movement and basketball skills development” while avoiding the “negative aspects of competition for children”. Samples of negative aspects outlined in the PSMNC brochure include; playing the best players only, complex tactics, early elimination structures and trying to win matches at the expense of player development”.
Teaching videos, the Mini3on3 booklet, Rules, Scoresheet & Guidelines – can be all downloaded on www.basketballireland.ie
For further information on the League contact the Coordinator Catriona Casey on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Or the Chairman Noel Keating on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
