‘Her Time To Play’ will provide hundreds of youth organizations with a free basketball curriculum and life-skills lessons.
The NBA started its fourth annual Jr. NBA Week with the launch of “Her Time To Play,” the league’s new initiative to inspire girls ages 7-14 to learn and play basketball in a positive and healthy way, and increase opportunities for women in coaching and athletic leadership.
‘Her Time To Play’ will provide hundreds of youth organizations with a free basketball curriculum and life-skills lessons developed specifically for young women that prepare them for the challenges of adolescence. The curriculum includes 12 lessons on topics like healthy eating and nutrition, teamwork, self-confidence, mental wellness, body image, and bullying.
Her Time To Play
Her Time To Play is a national grassroots initiative developed by the NBA and WNBA to inspire girls ages 7-14 to play basketball in a positive and healthy way.
This project is a collaboration between various organizations including the WNBA, USA Basketball, YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), and many more.
All 30 NBA teams will host basketball events and programs for local youth and communities to celebrate Jr. NBA Week, including special activities to tip off Her Time To Play. On Oct. 13, Boston Celtics forward and Her Time To Play ambassador Gordon Hayward will host a Jr. NBA clinic for 30 local girls in Boston, leading them in basketball skills and drills and an off-court leadership activity alongside his wife, Robyn.
“We remain committed to doing all we can to improve the overall youth basketball experience and ensure that more young boys and girls learn the lifelong values of the game,” said NBA President, Social Responsibility and Player Programs, Kathy Behrens in a press release. “Her Time To Play will provide young women with the resources they need to be the best athletes and people they can be, and help them navigate what can be challenging times in their lives.”
In addition to gaining more female participation, Her Time To Play aims to increase the number of women in coaching. Jr. NBA will provide opportunities for more than 500 new coaches to receive their USAB Coach License, and select coaches will be honored at the 2019 Jr. NBA Youth Basketball Leadership Conference for their commitment to growing the game.
Jr. NBA Week is set for start Oct. 8 through the 15th.
