Empowering young girls and helping them thrive in their sport is the core mission of the Women’s Basketball Training Center (CEFB). Established by the Northern Islands Territorial Basketball Committee (CTBIN) in partnership with the Center for Excellence and Education through Sport (CEES), this new program will welcome 18 middle schoolers and 3 high schoolers at the start of the next school year. Much like the Territorial Sports Centers (CST), the CEFB aims to help promising young athletes improve their skills while maintaining their academic progress and fostering independence and civic responsibility. Its unique feature: an all-female cohort.
"The CEFB was created in response to a sharp increase in the number of girls joining basketball clubs. However, these clubs aren't always organized or structured to accommodate and train female players," explains Charles-Henry Palvair, Director General of the CEES. In previous years, the Center had seen few female participants in certain sports, particularly basketball, soccer, and volleyball, where gender-based stereotypes can still act as a barrier to participation.
"My goal is to give more girls the chance to try basketball," says the coach, who notes that he began his own career working with women's teams. Beyond athletic development, the CEFB intends to create an environment that encourages female participation, giving young girls the opportunity to build confidence, improve, and fully find their place in sports.
In the long term, if this initial pilot program proves successful, the model could be expanded to other sports.
Source: SoualigaPost
