Tuesday, August 10, 2010

SUMPOORNA ANNUAL LEAGUE 2010 - AT SUMPOORNA CAMPUS - IN OCTOBER.

The SUMPOORNA ANNUAL LEAGUE 2010 [S.A.B.A.L 2010] will be held at SUMPOORNA campus during the month of October [7th to 17th]. Any three continuous days would be short-listed. This is an ideal period of Dussehra holidays so there is no inconvenience to any one.

TWELVE TEAMS comprising of 5+1 players would be divided into two groups. Six teams in a group will play every other team TWO TIMES. The two bottom teams will be eliminated and will play for rankings. The top four teams from each group will go forward. The teams will be ranked 1 to 8. The highest ranked team plays the lowest ranked team. In effect, 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5. These will be BEST OF THREE matches. The winners go on to play semi-finals [1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3] which will again be best of three games basis. The finals too will be played on best of three basis. All other teams would complete their ranking matches. TOTALLY there will be 96 matches.

The S.A.B.A.L rules and regulations are well known to all the players. ALL WIN - NO LOSERS! These rankings will hold good for the year 2010.

On day one, the opening ceremony will be conducted in the presence of eminent basketball players. The spirit of S.A.B.A.L will be highlighted during the matches.
All the officiating would be done by students themselves. The matches would be videographed and photographed for inspiring others to join or create their own SABALS. On day three, the cosing ceremony and prize distribution would be held.

The right to select the SIXTY PLAYERS plus TWELVE substitutes rests solely with the organizers which is based on cumulative participation in our tournaments. The selection of the captains would be announced a week earlier to the tournament and the team selection would also be made on the same day. The captains will be selected by organizers but team selection would be made by the captain.

I invite you to come and watch this league in beautiful village settings - surrounded by hillocks inviting you for trekking. Senior players are requested to be a part of this and encourage the future basketball players. Please inform us in advance so that arrangements can be made accordingly. For any clarifications call me on 98860 20145 or leave a message on 99808 30145.

STUDENTS WHO WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS LEAGUE MATCHES should join SUMPOORNA BASKETBALL SCHOOL on Facebook - to get the details regarding selection.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

SOME PLAYERS ARE GIVING A BAD NAME TO BASKETBALL

I could have done without writing this but I have always believed in `NIP THE EVIL IN THE BUD'. It is time to do it. Great players bring glory to the game, their nation and the family. Some players bring bad name to the game.

Young children are easily influenced by their peer pressure. So the responsibility of the senior players is to monitor such players' attitudes. The coach can only do `so much'. As a coach - I have had a face-off with many basketball players - including some - who were my students once upon a time. I AM A SOFT COACH - that is my character. I am alarmed at the `viral infection' of disobedience in today's players. As their skills improve their attitude changes for the worse. THEY THINK THEY KNOW EVERYTHING. Insolent children cause trouble to themselves and their families. They bunk school, college and other activities to indulge in `maniacal activities'.

Though, we are able to identify such players early on - we do not how to handle them. If we are too harsh, they leave the group and unmonitored they are a threat to everyone around them. If we are too soft, they take advantage. I have tried the carrot and stick policy and sometimes it works - and sometimes it doesn't work. It is heart-breaking to see these sports prodigies destroy their personality, character and the opportunity to become a good human being.

When other parents see such type of behaviour in basketball players - they blame the game. Hence it is the responsibility of the coach to ensure that along with the practice sessions - certain amount of time should be devoted to talking about `attitude'. I have used most of my theory classes on attitudes - children wonder what I am talking about - the `culprits' look into my eyes in a challenging way - LET US SEE WHAT YOU WILL DO.

As a basketball player - I always listened to my coach - I always played to the whistle; As a basketball coach - I tried my best to put in the `winning combinations' - allowed the bench to play [if we had a comfortable lead]; As a basketball promoter - I have given my players `good environments' and `level playing field'. I hope to continue to do this and bring a `good name' to the game.

Monday, August 2, 2010

PROJECT SUMPOORNA – PROMOTING BASKETBALL IN SCHOOLS

PROJECT SUMPOORNA – PROMOTING BASKETBALL IN SCHOOLS

INTRODUCTION
Sports education has taken a back seat in present educational planning. The schools need to tie up into Professional coaching systems to fully develop the talent of school children. This will help create grass root development of sports as also provide good health along with personality development of students.

BASKETBALL

Project SUMPOORNA has been working to address this need through the game of Basketball and has successfully created self-working modules in different schools. More than 25 schools have been net-worked and the sustained interest shown by the children and the school managements has demonstrated that it is indeed a path breaking method. Infrastructure can start from as less as a basketball ring and be as sophisticated as an indoor basketball court. Innovative exercising drills giving joyous exercise to children – improving their motor skills and developing their kinesthetical intelligence all go hand in hand.

THE GRASS ROOT REVOLUTION
One needs a spark to begin a fire – A BASKETBALL RING fitted on to a board which in turn is put up on a shooting post – can be that spark. But who provides this initial learning is the key. Motivating children to exercise and eat proper food to develop healthy bodies – and demonstrating them the benefits of such a regime can be crucial. SUMPOORNA CAMPUS situated at Betta Shambunahalli village, Kuramkote post, Koratagere Taluk in Distt. Tumkur is a Basketball Gurukulam – where thousands of children have been initiated. Now, the need to enlarge the process is felt so that the thousands of children in different parts of the state can benefit from this. The residential schools [especially girl schools] would be the `focus’ of this programme. The students trained at SUMPOORNA then show-case the game for their school. An embedded learning can be further enhanced by the visit of highly `experienced’ players of SUMPOORNA to such schools – as they are doing in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

METHODOLOGY
The SUMPOORNA campus has a standard size RCC Basketball court. A second RCC court is in the process of being constructed. An additional clay court for practice purposes is also in place. Children are provided with a `learning environment’ and are explained the basics of the game. Every exercise drill is a joyous movement of the body. Theory classes interspread with practical demonstrations ensure an urge in the children which is self sustaining. The spark is put in place through matches. Competitive spirit comes forth easily and the desire to win through skill development is established. From then on, the child develops a `passionate love’ for the game – which is the very objective.

Identifying the schools through survey visits – selecting the students through parameter testing would be done by SUMPOORNA .

INFRASTRUCTURE
The desirability of having a good infrastructure maybe paramount but this can become a stumbling block too due to lack of funding. So a phase-wise development of infrastructure can be taken up. Beginning with a very basic shooting board with ring in the first phase – to a shooting post in the second and a good clay court in the third phase could be developed.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT
A. The following would be the costs to be incurred:*
1. Basketball - One Rs.400**
2. Basketball - Ring Rs.800**
3. Basketball board and ring [wooden] Rs.2500 – PHASE I
4. Basketball shooting post [pipe structure] Rs.10000 – PHASE II
5. Basketball clay court – complete Rs.50000 – PHASE III
5. Cost of transportation and installation Rs.1500 [variable]

*PER SCHOOL – FIVE STUDENTS IS CONSIDERED AS A TEAM
** THESE WOULD BE GIVEN FREE OF COST BY SUMPOORNA
[For every school which sends a team of FIVE players]



B. The following would be the cost to be incurred PER STUDENT
1. Good pair of shoes with socks Rs. 800
2. Basketball uniform Rs. 350
3. Food expenses for 3 day camp Rs. 250

C. OTHER COSTS:
1. Travelling expenses of SUMPOORNA to identify schools and select
students suitable for this training or provide a suitable vehicle.
2. Travelling expenses of students for camps or provide a suitable vehicle.

CONCLUSION
The growing child has various needs – the right to play in `friendly environments’ is one such need. Denial of an opportunity to exercise and make their bodies healthy is a `injustice’ we cannot continue to perpetrate. Full of psychological manifestations and toxins in their bodies – there is a crying need to flush them out through sports in a joyous method. SUMPOORNA will train and nurture these players on a continuous basis – who in turn will provide subliminal training to their colleagues in the school – creating a mass movement. There is no looking back.

SUBHASH MAHAJAN
For twenty five years I have searched the reasons for India not doing well in sports at international level – we do not have enough children who play. A very scientific sports education programme is in place for the students of developed nations. Our children cannot be denied a similar effort – project SUMPOORNA through its innovative methodologies introduces this passionate game of BASKETBALL. The opportunity to build the health of the children must not be missed and also provide them a sustainable joy in their life. To that end I dedicate myself and this project.