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.