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Introduction Booklet

N:\\Publications\Administration\Background Booklet 2013.Docx – Updated September 2013

FIBA Oceania – Administering and developing in the Oceania region 1

FIBA Oceania – Administering and developing basketball in the Oceania region 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

What is FIBA Oceania? FIBA Oceania is one of the five recognised zones of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). FIBA is the controlling body for basketball worldwide and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The other FIBA zones are FIBA Europe (Munich), FIBA Americas (Puerto Rico), FIBA (Kuala Lumpur) and FIBA ().

FIBA Oceania is charged with the administration and control of basketball in the Pacific region. It represents the interests of the region at FIBA Central Board meetings and conducts all qualification events for World Championships and .

Membership of FIBA Oceania: FIBA Oceania has 21 member federations. They are: American Samoa, , Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, , Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New , Northern Mariana Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Purpose of FIBA Oceania: FIBA Oceania exists for five main purposes;  To ensure that basketball in the region is conducted according to the rules and regulations of FIBA.

 To represent the interests of the member nations at the international meetings of FIBA.

 To conduct qualification tournaments on behalf of FIBA for all men's and women's World Championships and for Olympic Games.

 To conduct regional and sub-regional competitions.

 To develop all aspects of the sport to the highest level within the region.

Much of the early development work of FIBA Oceania consisted of recruiting qualified coaches, referees and administrators from the more developed basketball nations of Australia and New Zealand and organising visits to the Pacific Island nations. This ad-hoc program was replaced in 1995 with the FIBA Oceania Development Plan. The strategic plan allowed for the employment of permanent staff to conduct education courses, manage the administration of the zone and set up international competitions on a regular, permanent basis.

Executive: The Executive (or Management Committee) of FIBA Oceania is elected for a four year term at the FIBA Oceania Congress which, because of the distances involved within the zone, is always timetabled to coincide with one of the major regional tournaments.

The role of FIBA President rotates around the 5 world zones every 4 years. From 2010-2014 FIBA Europe hold that position, Yvan Manini is the FIBA President from 2010 to 2014.

Management Committee for 2010 - 2013 are: President: Bob Elphinston* (Australia) Secretary General: Steve Smith* (Contracted) Scott Derwin (Australia)

Bill Keldermans (Palau) Members: Michael White (Northern Mariana Islands) Barbara Wheadon* (New Zealand) Robert Vautrin (New Caledonia) * = Oceania Representatives to FIBA Central Board until Aug 2014

FIBA Oceania – Administering and developing basketball in the Oceania region 3

Our Oceania Premier National Teams: Australia's Opals and Boomers; New Zealand's Tall Ferns and Tall Blacks

FIBA Oceania – Administering and developing basketball in the Oceania region 4 The Growth of FIBA Oceania:  1968 – Oceania Basketball was recognised by FIBA as a World Zone. Al Ramsay took the position of Secretary General, a volunteer position he held until 1997.

 1994 – Steve Smith was appointed as deputy Secretary General, the first paid employee of Oceania Basketball Confederation.

 1996 – Oceania Basketball employed two full time Development Officers. The ZDO’s spent approximately 9 months of each year travelling to various Pacific Island basketball federations, conducting education courses for coaches, players and referees and assisting with federation planning and administration.

 1998 – Special Projects and Administration Manager appointed to FIBA Oceania office. The SPAM oversees tournament administration and development projects.

 1999 - FIBA Oceania entered into employment partnerships with a number of Pacific Island National Olympic Committees and Basketball Federations to employ locally based National Basketball Development Officers (NBDO’s). Their role is to conduct grass roots development and basic administration within their country.

 2002 - FIBA Oceania was accepted by the Australian Government as a partner organisation of the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program (AYAD). This program allows FIBA Oceania to place young Australians in Basketball Development Officer positions in selected countries (nominated by the Australian Government) throughout the Pacific. Countries where the program has been conducted include Fiji (2003, 2004, 2005,2008 and 2013), Papua New Guinea (2004), Solomon Islands (2006), Vanuatu (2002, 2003 and 2011), Tonga (2002 and 2011).

 2004 – A Zone Development Manager was appointed to oversee the FIBA Oceania Development program, including the work of the ZDO’s and the NBDO’s.

 2013 – Zone Development Manager was appointed to oversee the FIBA Oceania Development Program, including the work of the ZDO’s and the NBDO’s.

 2013 – Personal Assistant/Administrator was appointed to assist the Secretary General.

FIBA Oceania Office:  FIBA Oceania maintains a modern, well equipped office in Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia. The location provides easy access to Sydney and Brisbane for international flight connections and is of a suitable size to welcome Pacific Island Nations for training purposes and to conduct international tournaments.

 The Secretary General, Zone Administration Manager, Zone Development Manager, Special Project & Administration Manager and Personal Assistant work from the Boambee office.

 The FIBA Oceania website (www.fibaoceania.com) is a source of information and updates on the activities of the zone, and is managed from the Coffs Harbour office. The 21 member Federations maintain their own websites.

 The office is in constant phone, email and fax contact with the Basketball Federations which comprise its members, with the International Basketball Federation and with kindred organisations in other world zones.

Finances:  One of the greatest handicaps to the development of the sport within the region and to the activities of FIBA Oceania has been a lack of finance. In the early days of the organisation the funding had been derived from a variety of sources including FIBA, the Olympic Movement, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, minor sponsorship and income from its members.

 In 1995 FIBA agreed to make a regular development grant to FIBA Oceania to enable it to have full time staff and to carry out development tasks throughout the Pacific.

FIBA Oceania – Administering and developing basketball in the Oceania region 5  In spite of this most generous assistance there is always more to be accomplished, and additional funding is pursued to assist the continual expansion of services provided by this organisation. As a result of the financial support from FIBA, we are able to offer each of our federations a program of annual development visits by the FIBA Oceania Staff. With the support of both FIBA and Olympic Solidarity, FIBA Oceania has been able to increase the number of competitions played across the zone.

Competitions:  FIBA Oceania conducts two separate levels of competitions. The first level caters for those federations strong enough to qualify for international events, and the second level caters for developing countries. The competition calendar includes events for men and for women in open age and junior competitions.

 Championships: Every two years FIBA Oceania conducts the men’s and women’s championship which qualifies the winner to proceed to either the Olympic Games Basketball Competition, or in the years between the Olympics, to FIBA’s World Championships. FIBA conducts World Championships for U-19 Men and Women every 2 years. In 2010 FIBA introduced an U-17 World Championship for Men and Women.

Tournaments:  FIBA Oceania, in cooperation with Oceania Federations, assists in the hosting of these tournaments. . The Pacific Games Basketball Tournament. . The Pacific Senior Tournament for men and women. . The Pacific Youth Tournament for men and women.

 In the mid-year between the Pacific Games, FIBA Oceania stages its Pacific Senior Tournament for men and women. Australia and New Zealand are invited to send teams to this event.

 Every two years FIBA Oceania conducts the Youth Tournament for boys and girls 20 years and under. This tournament is limited to 8 boy’s and 8 girl’s teams and is held in a different country each time. During the Youth Tournament an All-Star boys and girls’ team, two coaches and two referees are selected to represent the Oceania region at the Australian U20 National Championships.

 FIBA Oceania provide technical expertise, manpower and equipment to Regional and National events featuring basketball such as: . Micronesian Games . Micronesian Basketball Tournament . Polynesian Basketball Tournament. . National Games e.g. Solomon Games. . National Basketball Championships e.g. PNG Basketball Championships.

Technical Expertise:  FIBA Oceania employs staff, who travel to the member countries to assist them with the training and accreditation of athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators.

 They assist the federations with strategic planning and annual planning. The ZDM meets with the National Olympic Committees, the media, education department staff, government sports officers, and aid agencies to develop basketball in the host country. In those countries with a National Basketball Development Officer or a Youth Ambassador, the Zone Development Manager acts as a mentor and supervisor for their work.

 NBDO Program. Palau, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Marshall Islands, PNG and Fiji are presently the beneficiaries of the National Basketball Development Officer (NBDO) program. FIBA Oceania, in co-operation with the National Olympic Committee and the Basketball Federation, provides finances for the employment of a local person to develop basketball in their country. The NBDO provides written quarterly reports to FIBA Oceania. Professional development is provided to the NBDO’s through the ZDM visits and regular regional training workshops.

FIBA Oceania – Administering and developing basketball in the Oceania region 6  AYAD. FIBA Oceania has placed Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development in Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, the Solomon Islands and PNG over the past 10 years. These young Australians, with excellent credentials in many fields of basketball act as a resource for the NBDO and Basketball Federation. The AYAD assignments are part of the Australian Government’s overseas aid program (AusAid), and each assignment is specifically targeted to the basketball needs of the host country.

 Manuals. FIBA Oceania has an extensive range of training manuals in coaching, refereeing, administration, score bench and statistics gathering. The manuals range from beginner to high level resources. Most are available in electronic form as well as hard copy.

 Courses and Professional Development. From time to time, and as grants are made available, FIBA Oceania conducts Regional Training courses for coaches, players, administrators and technical officials. Sometimes these are conducted as stand-alone events or as part of a FIBA Oceania competition event.

 Coaches Study Tour. Commenced in 2004 the study tour provides an opportunity for Pacific Island basketball coaches to see first-hand, a number of highly successful programs in Australia. Coaches attend junior and senior representative training, top quality games, undertake school visits, see the Australian Intensive Training program in action, visit the Australian Institute of Sport and have the opportunity to meet some of Australia’s best coaches.

 Australia Sports Outreach Program. This sports program is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Sports Commission. Coaches and players from across the Pacific have the opportunity to undertake extensive professional development training through the program. A number of Australian basketball associations have assisted in the successful delivery of this program.

 Olympic Solidarity. Olympic Solidarity is a sports development program of the International Olympic Committee. FIBA Oceania assists Basketball Federations to access Olympic Solidarity funds by assisting and supporting grant applications.

 Licensing of Foreign Players: In accordance with FIBA regulations, all foreign players participating in the Australian and New Zealand first and second tier competitions must have a foreign player licence. FIBA Oceania is responsible for issuing those licences.

Equipment & Facilities:  FIBA Oceania is the contact point for specifications on basketball equipment and facilities. FIBA Oceania is able to assist federations with the sourcing of a wide range of equipment for basketball, is able to recommend reputable suppliers and can ensure federations get the best value-for-money from their equipment grants.

 The FIBA Study Centre is a division of the International Basketball Federation which is responsible for the study of facilities and equipment. It establishes performance standards for various basketball components and establishes the minimum criteria necessary for the staging of various FIBA events. It has produced a number of publications on the design and maintenance of basketball facilities. It has endorsed a number of manufacturers as reputable suppliers of basketball equipment and building components.

 FIBA establishes the compliance standards for , courts, timing and scorekeeping equipment, television broadcast and the arenas in which FIBA events are staged.

 FIBA Oceania administers a small grants scheme to assist federations establish basic basketball facilities to foster the growth of the sport in needy areas.

FIBA Oceania – Administering and developing basketball in the Oceania region 7 FIBA Oceania Office Staff

Steve Smith Judy Smith Annie La Fleur Lorraine Drew FIBA Oceania Special Projects Zone Development Personal Secretary General Manager Manager Assistant, Administration

FIBA Oceania National Development Officers

Laisiasa Puamau Iota Tatireta Topps Sungino Mouj Lewi Isileli Niualiku Fiji NBDO Kiribati NBDO Palau NBDO Marshall Island NBDO Tonga NBDO

Kevin Roslyn David Moses Kivo Jon Lujan TBC PNG NBDO TBC Samoa NBDO Vanuatu NBDO Solomon Islands Guam NBDO NBDO

Communication:

International callers Postal Address Street Address ABN : 16 649 580 029 Ph +61 2 6658 6110 PO Box 174 18 Seabreeze Pl Bank Details: (Westpac) Fax +61 2 6658 6114 Toormina, NSW Boambee, NSW BSB Number: 032 576 Australia 2452 Australia 2452 Acct Number: 700364 Swift Code: WPACAU2S Email address : [email protected] Website: www.fibaoceania.com

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Oceania – The zone of extremes! Compare the photo on the left with the photo at right – similar event, very different environment!

The Pacific Games – Fiji 2003 The PNG U20 National Championships, Lae

Learning to play in Vanuatu Learning to play in Australia

A coaching clinic at the AIS, Canberra A coaching clinic in PNG

National Championships, Palau Schools competition, Vanuatu

FIBA Oceania – Administering and developing basketball in the Oceania region 9 More photographs from the Pacific Islands

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Youth Tournament Tonga 2002:

Youth Tournament Coffs Harbour 2004 and New Zealand 2006:

Youth Tournament Guam 2008 and New Caledonia 2010:

Pacific Games, Fiji 2003:

Pacific Games, Samoa 2007:

Pacific Games New Caledonia 2011

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Country Welcome Farewell

Australia G’day Hooroo

American Samoa Talofa Tofa

Cook Islands Kia Orana Aere Ra

Fiji Bula Moce Mada

Guam Hafa Adai Adios

Kiribati Mauri Ti a Boo

Marshall Islands Yokwe Bar Lo Yuk

Micronesia Kaselehlia Kaselehlia

Nauru Hello Good bye

New Caledonia Bonjour Au revoir

New Zealand Kia Ora Ka Kite Ano

Palau Alii Mechikung

Papua New Guinea Hamamas long lukim yu Lukim yu behain

Northern Marianas Hafa Adai Adios

Samoa Talofa Tofa

Solomon Islands Halo Mafren Lukim Iu

Tonga Malo e Lelei ‘Alu a

Tuvalu Talofa Tofa

Tahiti Ia Orana Au Revoir

Vanuatu Hello Lukiom ya

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