Patty Mills launches Indigenous Community Basketball League for a Second Year
Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA) is proud to announce their highly anticipated second season of the Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL). Following remarkable success both on and off the court in its first year of operations, the program continues to pursue its mission of providing a pathway of participation and success for the next generation of Aboriginal youths and Torres Strait Islander youths. Year one of the ICBL was delivered in eight regions around the country and recorded incredible participation numbers. ICBL Season 2 tips off this weekend and will once again see communities across Australia represented through its 8 locations.
Following in the path of last year’s success, the 2022 ICBL brings a comprehensive program of both on and off-court activities and will be delivered in 8 regions including Darwin, Thursday Island, Cairns, Logan, Bendigo, Adelaide, Perth and Narromine. This year’s program welcomes Victoria to its schedule in response to increasing demand. The ICBL is a basketball competition dedicated to the development and capacity building of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander talent: players, coaches, team managers and officials.
“Seeing the overwhelming response to last year’s ICBL program has only fuelled my desire to continue to find ways to provide opportunities and make a real impact on the lives of my people.” says NBA Champion three-time Olympian and proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian, Patty Mills. “IBA is our vehicle to make this possible. It’s a basketball competition that goes way beyond the court, to encourage our young people to dream big, set goals and be inspired and motivated to chase their goals. Basketball has brought me great happiness but programs like this bring me a true sense of fulfillment. I’m excited to see what, and who, this year’s program brings us. We’re only just getting started”
The ICBL provides a safe and supportive environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to play basketball each week, with pregame Inspiration and Motivation sessions. These sessions guide athletes into identifying their goals; encouraging them to be proud of their identity and culture, their community, and encourages commitment to strengthening their skills on and off the court. Session themes have focused on promotion of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people, Identity and Culture, Education, Health, Employment, Leadership, Safety and Wellbeing and Role Models. The sessions aim to instill participants with an unrelenting belief that nothing is out of bounds, that excellence and greatness is achievable and that the support of families and communities is essential in helping them reach their goals.
The impact of the 2021 ICBL was far-reaching with an astounding 256 games played in total, involving 100% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander players, coaches and team managers. The ICBL delivered opportunity and broke down barriers for not only the 627 athletes who took part but also the 64 team managers and coaches and 35 assistant coaches who committed their time to the program.
The announcement of the 2022 ICBL season comes just days after seeing Patty Mills compete in his first All-Star Weekend, becoming the first Australian to participate in the 3-Point Contest in Cleveland. The ACT Australian of the Year donned a pair of specially designed IBA-themed shoes proving that the ICBL, and everything it stands for, is never far from his thoughts.
To learn more about IBA, please visit the IBA website indigenousbasketballaustralia.com or follow IBA on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
For additional information and assets on IBA, please contact:
Sally Phillips I General Manager – Strategic Initiatives | Indigenous Basketball Australia
E: sally@indigenousbasketballaustralia.com | P: +61 425 768 462
About Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA)
Founded by NBA Champion, four-time Olympian and proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian Patty Mills, IBA forms part of his ongoing commitment to use the power of sport to create pathways and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths through the National Indigenous Youth Basketball Program Australia. Centered around the core principles of culture, education, health, safety and wellbeing, the co-gender programs, development camps, Inspiration & Motivation sessions, tournaments, and competitions run by IBA are the first of their kind in Australian sporting history.