Basketball Fiji partners with US Embassy

Basketball Fiji in partnership with the US embassy of Fiji have secured the services of four American coaches to conduct an Outreach Program in the country from the 17th -28th March 2013. The four coaches will be accommodated by BF's Development Officers in conducting Development Clinics in Secondary Schools around Viti Levu. BF's Development Officer Laisiasa Puamau said "the objectives of the Development Visits is to promote and develop the sport in the country, in particular at the Secondary schools level.

"The outreach coverage will include visits to secondary schools in Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Tailevu, Nausori and Suva". The Outreach Program will be conducted by Mrs Ana Tuiaea Ruud who will be accompanied by her husband, Mr Jason Ruud, Ms Amber Johnson and Mr Kwan Johnson are the four visiting US coaches with the addition assistance of BF's Development Officers Mr Laisiasa Puamau and Mrs Mereleni Waqairawai.

Mrs. Ana Tuiaea who is a Pacific Islander is the Sports Director at Idaho University and was oreviously an assistant women's basketball coach at Washington University for six years. She helped guide CWU to three NCAA Division II Tournaments and her primary responsibilities included academics, conditioning, and post player development.

Mrs. Ana was also a standout basketball player for the University of Washington and played in two NCAA Tournaments (1997, 1998).She also played for the Samoan Women's National Basketball Team in 1999 for Olympic Trials in San Diego.

Basketball Fiji would like to aknoweledge the US Embassy of Fiji for providing the federation with a grant to conduct the Development Clinics which has the goals to reach over 3000 secondary students around Viti Levu.