TALLINN (Estonia) – FIBA Europe and partners of the Hoops for Schools (H4S) initiative gathered for their annual meeting on the first weekend of October in Tallinn, nearly three years after the project's launch. Delegates attended from the Estonian Basketball Federation, which hosted the event, along with representatives from the Cypriot Basketball Federation and Basketball Denmark.
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In addition to the three national federations, four other project partners participated: NBN23, the FIBA Foundation, the German Sports University in Cologne (GSU), and Special Olympics Europe Eurasia. The two-day meeting allowed attendees to evaluate the initiative's progress, exchange best practices, and discuss future objectives.
The partners reached a consensus that the project has surpassed initial expectations since its launch in January 2024, transitioning from an Erasmus+ initiative to a sustainable global program. H4S continues to aid National Federations across Europe in integrating basketball into schools and inspiring young athletes.
During the meeting, FIBA Europe reported on the first full implementation of H4S from September 2025 to June 2026. Eighteen European National Federations successfully executed the program, with an additional ten federations and five non-European federations expressing interest for the 2026-27 academic year. To date, the initiative has engaged over 13,000 children in its first 18 participating countries. Additionally, federations that achieved strong engagement were rewarded with the newly developed Hoops for Schools ball, a lightweight Size 5 basketball designed for school use.
Looking ahead, the partners aim to increase the number of implementing National Federations to 30. The European Union acknowledged the program's success and has approved a follow-up initiative called Hoops for Schools+, which will focus on enhancing resources and improving participation, accessibility, and inclusion in basketball.
The mission of H4S remains unchanged since its inception, aiming to bolster grassroots basketball by assisting National Federations in crafting and executing their own basketball-in-schools digital programs.