Mali and American basketball players combine to practice at a Leadership Through Athletics clinic

Youth basketball players from Mali participated in array of activities during a thirteen day exchange program through the Department of State’s SportsUnited office, each of which was highlighted by the personal connections and friendships that were established. The delegation included six female and five male players ranging in age from 13-17, as well as their 2 male coaches.

Throughout the course of their D.C. area program, the athletes had the opportunity to interact and practice with their American peers, which facilitated an active dialogue about playing basketball and being a teenager with students from Bishop McNamara, Parkdale and Winston Churchill High Schools. The participants were welcomed into classrooms and basketball practices, providing them opportunities to attend a West African dance and French classes, learn new basketball drills and scrimmage with the high school basketball teams.

Additionally, the group was able to share their energy and knowledge with younger athletes at Travilah Elementary school, where they demonstrated passing and dribbling drills and served as role models and team leaders during a scrimmage.

The delegation furthered their view of American basketball culture at Georgetown University, where they learned about achieving high levels of academic and athletic excellence. They were given the opportunity to observe both the men’s and women’s basketball team practices, and learned about the program directly from the coaching staff and players, including former head coach John Thompson, Jr., players, and alumnus Patrick Ewing, Jr. One of the participants commented, “I envy the Americans for their dedication and their mastery of the fundamentals. When I see them, I want to become like them.

During their program, the group also had the opportunity to improve and test their skills at local organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club and Amateur Athletic Union. These organizations presented the delegation with innovative activities and techniques, resulting in very beneficial sessions for the visitors and motivating them to learn more. They worked together as a team to utilize these new skills during clinics with American youth teams, where they enjoyed incorporating the techniques into their plays and interacting with the club basketball players.

The players rounded out their experience with several cultural activities and a visit to the Embassy of Mali. After two, very busy weeks, the delegation learned and developed many concepts to bring home with them and were eager to share their experience.

"I learned that we need to do everything within our power to become positive leaders. It’s a choice we can make." -Ms. Aissata Maiga