YBG unveils packed programme for remainder of 2022

By Timothy Jaikarran

Youth Basketball Guyana are currently hosting their YBG Summer Camp, which has seen a huge turnout from across the country. YBG have not let up in their plans for the year, as they continue to provide new opportunities for talents and those who are eager to learn the sport of basketball in Guyana.

According to YBG Co-founder Chris Bowman, they have a packed second-half programme as they seek to end 2022 “with a bang!”
In an interview with this publication, when asked his view on what’s next for YBG, Bowman said, “We have a pretty much packed second-half programme as we wrap up this year. In September, we want to focus on the implementation of the youth basketball curriculum. That is a project that we want to really put out there as a pilot, and to have all the schools and coaches on the same developmental track in terms of enforcing the fundamentals of the game. So we have drafted the curriculum, and in September, hopefully, we will be able to bring together a group of teachers and coaches to conduct some training, and then we will move to the implementation stage, where it can become a blueprint.”
Bowman also noted that following the implementation of the curriculum, in October, YBG is seeking to host a student athlete conference wherein would be brought together senior class players (4th, 5th, 6th formers) who would be given career guidance. YBG would also work with the students in relation to transitioning from high school to tertiary, and concerning the work environment.
He noted that the conference is one of the ongoing activities they have with ExxonMobil, who is one of the main sponsors. Later in the year, Bowman divulged, the YBG would conclude the year with Titan Bowl, which is a year-ending tournament in which the top schools would return for a final clash.
“We will also add, this year, a tertiary knockout tournament. So, it will be the Titan Bowl and a Tertiary Knockout tournament running side-by-side to end the year. We are also thinking about doing a tournament for emerging schools. There were lots of new schools in the last NSBF. We feel that there is a need for a tournament for those who are not yet there, to have an opportunity to compete at their level,” he shared.
He explained that the tournament would seek to target schools such a Christ Church, Queen’s College, North Georgetown and so forth. Hence, by the time they come to the next season, they would have sufficient court time experience.