Hoops 4 Kids H4K

Cook Islands Hoops 4 Kids (H4K) Initiative

Rarotonga Youth Basketball Club (H4K)

Mission: To develop a culture of identity and respect amongst CI youth through the sport of basketball.

Vision: To create an accessible and affordable competitive development basketball program for children ages 7-10 and 11-15 which will become a feeder system for the elite basketball programs.

Objective: To form a National Club of ‘kids’ (H4K) with the purpose of developing physical, social and mental skills through the sport of basketball. 

Goals: To present the ‘kids’ with an option to learn new skills

To provide ‘kids’ with an accessible opportunity to participate in a supportive, physical and social learning environment.

To raise the profile of basketball within the Cook Islands

To provide a ‘no to low’ cost option for ‘kids’ and families to participate in a fun sport.

To create a system of integrity within the operations of ‘Hoops 4 Kids’ (H4K)

Overarching question:

                                                                                              

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET KIDS CONSISTENTLY AND SUSTAINABLY ON COURTS?

 

Availability             Accessibility               Collaboration           Affordability        Accountability

H4K

 Connectivity – Fairplay – Respect - Self Esteem - Well-being – Fun

Engaged and Connected Youth

 

 

H4K Development

Fundamentals and Active: H4K learn and practice the basic skills of basketball. Skills and related components are taught, modeled and developed through a series of drills and devised, development games (DEVs). Coaches and players concentrate on type, technique and terminology.

Train to Play: H4K practice and hone basic skills with a view to performing in game situations. Performance skills technique and terminology are developed further and general fitness activities are included. Fair play and sportsmanship principles are encouraged and positively affirmed

Train to Compete: H4K train and practice to become ready for competition - School, Vaka and Island Comps.

Implementation: H4K will be a program overseen and directed by CIBF although every endeavour will be made to encourage and support parents to take an active role in Coaching and officiating as well as developing our own local pool of basketball officials for our senior competition

H4K – The Concept

 

What is it?

‘Hoops 4 Kids’ H4K  is a club that uses basketball as a vehicle to enhance its members physical, social, mental and emotional well-being.  It is a program that operates a natural progression system whereby kids can achieve with the goal of preparing them for later levels that are socially and competitively relevant to their needs. It is a fun club that advocates fair play, respect and team work through a supportive and success oriented learning environment.

It is a Sport Youth Development Program (SYDP) aimed at developing competent, confident, connected individuals that can use these assets to become productive members of their villages and communities.

 

How it works?

The primary drivers of this program are Availability, Accessibility, Collaboration and Affordability.  As part of basketball development in the Cook Islands it is important that as a Federation we honour our word and work to develop our Youth in the sport. Accountability means that we do what we say – this will become an expectation that we will hope to develop with the H4K club members.

Schools act as connections to the prospective members of H4K. Initially, schools will be approached to help promote H4K to their students. This will happen through the school Newsletters at first and then Federation approaches and presents to school assemblies and media advertising as budget allows. Churches will also be approached to gauge support for the program in terms of gaining accessibility to the physical resources that we can share in. Relationships and collaboration with schools and church groups will be important to the successful running of the H4K program.    

H4K  will run on a Vaka by vaka basis. Coaching sessions will be taken at one of three LDS courts and the sole SDA Court at Papaaroa. Takitumu can be split into two with one session being held at the LDS Chapel in Turangi and the other at the Papaaroa SDA church hall. This gives four Physical courts that we can potentially utilize. Coaching sessions will then be conducted initially covering ‘Fundamentals and Active’ and ‘Train to Play ’ skills – Coaching Manual (tbd). In these sessions, kids will be given the opportunity to learn and develop basic basketball skills and learn strategic concepts to enable them to play basketball and perform personally and in team situations. These two levels of the H4K program, while promoting game situations, will generally be the non competitive levels of the program.  There should also be a level of proficiency with conceptual and basic skills so that a player can pass each particular level. Basic proficiency guidelines and terminology will need to be designed. The Training to Compete level will take the members through structured practice sessions aimed at honing the basic skills taught at the previous levels and preparing the members to play competitively.

Skills Grid for H4K

Social and Emotional Skills: Confidence, social interaction, integrity, leadership, communication, trust.

Fundamental, Health and Fitness Skills: Running, Jumping, spatial awareness, pushing, aerobic, muscular endurance, flexibility, strength, speed, coordination, power, agility and balance.

Fundamental basketball Skills: Footwork, ball handling, dribbling, shooting, passing, offense, defense.

 

 What to do now?

  • Organise program support framework, coaches and set program dates
  • Organise the Kids to participate – Send notice to schools, media notification via advertising and/or stories.
  • Equipment and facility preparation –balls, bands, bibs, cones.
  • Notification to churches re-support
  • Design a H4K coaching and training manual
  • Outline levels and their competencies (part of coaching manual)
  • Look for possible funding streams 
  • Work towards school competitions Vaka Skills Sessions – School Competition – Vaka Tournament (Rep Teams) Selected from Schools Competition.

Long-Term

  • Outer Island development

add to this list

H4K Wish list :  Club Logo Design, Vaka Uniforms, Basketball hoops in all schools 




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