Basketball Fiji has a new National Development Program (NDP) for the period 2008 to 2011.  The Program involves two levels of development.  The first level is the National Squad Programs -  the National Men's and National Women's Squads and the National Youith Men's and National Youth Women's Squads.  The National Sqiuad Programs are much more intensive in their programming as it is these squads that National Teams are selected from to represent Fiji at such competitions as the Oceania Championships, Oceania Tournaments, Pacific Games and any other competition where a National Team is entered.  The national level program is periodized for each year (2008-2011) and runs 12 months of the year. 

This does not mean that the players work every day of every month for the whole year, but that they have a program to follow through the whole year.  In some months the program involves active rest while in others it involves conditioning and strength programs as well as on court practice sessions.  In the 12 months leading up to an international or regional competition the program becomes far more intensive.  

The second level involves the Youth Men's and Youth Women's Development Squads and the Junior Men's and Junior Women's Developement Squads.  This level is less intensive and comprises monthly practice sessions and home programs as well as an annual camp for 2 weeks.  The players for this level are selected out of the Secondary and Primary School Competitions.  The Secondary School Leagues are held in the third school year term and the Primary School Leagues are held in first term.  This allows some planning that uses different school holiday periods to conduct the camps. 

The coaches and managers are selected to the program based on applicatiuons received and it is planned that the NDP will involve more coaches in the future as the program expands at the development level into Satellite Squads in the East and West Divisions.  The NDP is designed to create a pathway of develeopment (a career path) for both players and coaches and will also develop more managers to take on Nationa manager roles.

The coaching program is set down for every squad and squad coaches and managers have defined roles and responsibilities (as do the players).  The coaches are supplied with a vast amount of coaching resource material and the managers ar also supplied with education (such as first aid treatment and management skills).  Coaches alkso have to become accredited at various levels to coach in the program.  Coaching Course are scheduled throughout the year to cater for this.  Each Head Coach of a squad and the Squad Manager report to the NBDO each month on the work accomplished and player reviews.

Basketball Fiji has a vision "to be competitive with Australia and New Zealand in 6-8 years" and with the sucess of the NDP over the next 4 years we shall be well on our way to achieving this goal.

Full copies of Basketball Fiji's Development Plan and NDP may be obtained fron NBDO Fanny Simpson (check the email address on the Fiji website lead in).