Long Term Grass Root Basketball Development In Sri Lanka

mpetitive and recreational level. The Sri Lanka Basketball Federation (SLBF) as the governing body for the sport at present focuses on elite level development as a priority in order to build the image of Sri Lanka by representation at South Asian level and in some instances Asian level. The Sri Lanka Basketball Federation (SLBF) is the sole affiliate to FIBA ASIA and FIBA world body representing twenty six (26) associations operating in Sri Lanka at District, Mercantile and Public services and Armed Forces levels (SBPL 2016). According to the SLBF over 10000 members play Basketball in different parts of the country. The information highlights short coming of physical infrastructure and need of grass root approach to harness talent to achieve success at Asian level. Less publicity and to some extent the physical structures of players. It is believed that a good attention to infrastructure, technical know-how and adequate publicity will overcome the main barriers to develop. The SLBF has limited projects focused and geared to develop young basketball player’s talent detection to talent development. The school level tournaments are considered as a talent pool, however due to a directive of the Department of Education competitive level sports are organized only after the 14 year age level. This directive which has been given –possibly with good intentions- gives children the opportunity to play basketball for only about six years before they leave school. As a result we have noticed that there appears a big gap in the standard a school boys plays the game at under 19 level to the standard of player currently engaged in the club level. The gap gets wider when we compare the elite division and the national level. The solution to this in getting children to play the game from the age of 10 years or younger at a recreational level versus a competitive level. Concentration on skill development from the beginning and managing the children under professional care will develop players to a higher standard when they reach the first competitive level tournaments at schools there by developing the standard of the players who could leave school and amalgamate in to the club division. This development from the “bottom up”, no doubt will push the standard at elite level as well as the national level.