The JrNBA programme in Northern Ireland has just wrapped up its second year, marking another successful chapter in its mission to introduce young children to grassroots basketball while promoting mental health awareness and fostering good community relations. This initiative, inspired by the success of Basketball Ireland’s programme, has made a significant impact, bringing the excitement of basketball to hundreds of primary 7 children, with thanks to the support and funding from Sport Northern Ireland and the National Lottery.
There are 30 schools appointed each year for the programme. Each school receives 8 weeks of coaching, a bag of basketballs, NBA hoops, are drafted to an NBA team and are gifted a 12 man one of a kind JrNBA x BNI kit.
The main aim this year was to achieve representation across every county in Northern Ireland, and that was achieved with 7 schools in Antrim, 5 in Down, 3 in Armagh , 2 in Tyrone, 6 in Derry/Londonderry and 7 in Fermanagh . Remarkably, 75% of these schools had never received any form of basketball coaching before this programme.
Beyond the courts, the programme also focused on mental health awareness and building positive mental attitude, with the NBA Classroom initiative playing a vital role in this aspect. The NBA Classroom explores principles and daily habits NBA stars use to support their mental wellbeing as well as teaching the children the importance of wellbeing timeouts.
26 of these schools came together in UUJ on April 30th for The JrNBA Playoff’s Festival of Fun – an action packed day of all things basketball, games, positive mental attitude and good relations. DJ Blase was courtside to provide the tunes, while Pizza Co ensured every child received a well earned slice of pizza.
The JrNBA Playoff’s Festival of Fun not only hosted numerous basketball games but also featured good relations workshops conducted by the Sport Changes Life Foundation and Peace Players NI. These organisations have spent two decades using basketball as a tool to inspire, educate, and create positive change in Northern Ireland communities. Another segment of the day was the NBA Media Room – a press room set up where the children acted as media journalists, NBA stars being interviewed and camera crew members.
A highlight of the Festival of Fun was the appearance of Javan Dupree (JD), Belfast Star Legend, Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist for Team NI and all-around Irish Basketball Legend. He inspired the young children talking about his basketball journey. Dupree also had the honour of presenting medals and NBA rings to the winning teams, creating unforgettable memories for the children.
According to Niamh Mac Manus, Programme Coordinator, “The JrNBA initiative is not just about teaching basketball skills; it is about creating a lasting impact on the children and their communities. This partnership between Basketball NI and the NBA is dedicated to reaching every corner of Northern Ireland, providing children with access to basketball and connecting them to local clubs. It was important for me as not only programme coordinator, but a young female in sport, that equal gender representation was at the forefront with Sport NI’s Campaign ‘Be Seen, Be Heard, Belong’ in mind. I’m delighted that we achieved a 50/50 gender split and now have the programme successfully running in every county in the North.”
“This programme is about more than just basketball — it’s about building confidence, community, and lifelong memories at the beginning of the grassroots journey for our participants in the sport of basketball. As we celebrate our second year of partnership with the NBA and continue working closely with Basketball Ireland, we’re incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made together. This is a chance for young children to build not only a connection with the sport but visualise what it would be like to be in the NBA or WNBA. The Holistic experience of our NBA Play Off Finals helps our participants feel connected the NBA/WNBA superstars giving them a connection that can only make an impact on their journey in the sport. I’m especially proud of our small but dedicated staff team, the passionate coaches, supportive teachers, and engaged parents — all of whom are key stakeholders in each young person’s journey. This year was especially challenging as we wanted to reach diverse geographical regions in NI who do not always get the opportunities because of their locations. This took a huge collaboration and stretch of resources that could only be achieved thanks to the vital support from Sport Northern Ireland’s Sports Systems funding and the National Lottery UK Fund, we’re creating opportunities that go far beyond the court.” Vice Chair of Basketball NI, Marc Mulholland.
As the JrNBA programme wraps up its second year, it continues to leave a lasting legacy, fostering a love for the sport while promoting values of teamwork, mental well-being, and community spirit. With over 975 children participating this year, the JrNBA initiative is well on its way to transforming young lives through the power of basketball across Northern Ireland.
Watch the full video of the day HERE
