Basketball Northern Ireland 3rd successfully year of the JrNBA was delivered with the first Jr NBA Western Conference Festival of Fun on 21st April 2026 at Ulster University, Coleraine, bringing together 13 primary schools from across the region for a day of participation, energy and enjoyment.
The event forms part of a wider Jr NBA programme, funded through Sport NI National Lottery Funding, which has engaged over 1,100 children across Northern Ireland. Working with outreach coaches in partnership with Sport Changes Life, Healthy Kidz, Evolution Basketball, BC Wolves, Larne Lakers, Mourne Basketball, Antrim Jets and additional local club coaches across the BNI Community. Of those, over 330 participants progressed to take part in the Festival of Fun events, representing primary schools from across the region.
Basketball NI secured a multi year partnership with the NBA to deliver their JrNBA project using the cirriculum to build on its grassroots development programme in primary schools across the region.
At Coleraine, participants rotated through a series of basketball games, skills sessions and interactive activities, including NBA in the Classroom workshops and NBA media training sessions, giving young people the opportunity to experience what it is like to be an NBA or WNBA star for the day. The programme maintained a strong participation led focus, with no scores recorded and an emphasis on enjoyment, teamwork and confidence building.
The event also saw a 50 50 gender split, reflecting Basketball Northern Ireland’s commitment to inclusive participation and equal opportunity at grassroots level.
Marc Mulholland, Delivering the programme for Basketball Northern Ireland, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with the NBA through a four year programme to deliver initiatives like this, and we are extremely grateful to Sport NI National Lottery Funding for their continued support as we grow the game across Northern Ireland.
We are committed to growing and developing participation at grassroots level across the Causeway Coastline, including Derry/Londonderry, Coleraine and Maghera. This region is hugely important to the long term development of our sport, and it was fantastic to see such strong engagement from schools across the area. Sign posting to local clubs and developing areas were we feel there is a real appetie for club growth.
It was also great to 50/50 split of boys and girls participating and taking their first steps on the basketball court is a powerful reflection of where the game is going. The addition of NBA in the Classroom and NBA media training workshops gave the children a unique opportunity to learn, express themselves and experience what it is like to be an NBA or WNBA star for the day.”
The Western Conference Festival of Fun represents a continued commitment to developing accessible pathways into basketball for young people across Northern Ireland, particularly within primary school settings.
Basketball Northern Ireland extends its thanks to all participating schools, staff, volunteers, coaches and partners who contributed to the success of the event.
