Spalding partners with Indigenous Basketball Australia

Spalding is proud to announce a new partnership with Indigenous Basketball Australia (IBA), a program designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to play ball.

Founded by NBA Champion, three-time Olympian and proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian Patty Mills, IBA offers skill development programs at grassroots level across the country, providing a pathway for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to play the game at the highest level. The programs run by IBA will be underpinned by culture, education, health, safety and wellbeing. It will allow young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to retain cultural practices, strengthen and promote their individual cultural identity and lead healthy lifestyles.

Spalding will be partnering with IBA to provide basketballs and other equipment to facilitate leagues and events targeted to the Indigenous community across Australia. In its first year of operation, IBA will provide opportunities to approximately 960 children, with anticipated growth year on year. In addition to providing playing opportunities, IBA will also develop the skills and capacity of coaches and referees as part of its commitment to shine a light on Indigenous Australian talent.

Locally, Spalding have been entrenched and dedicated to the game at all levels, including Official Game Ball of Basketball Australia as well as multiple states across the country, including Basketball Victoria, Basketball NSW, Basketball WA, Basketball NT and Basketball ACT. Aligning with the IBA as a national initiative was a seamless extension to this and further reinforces the emphasis Spalding puts on supporting community basketball. 

Managing Director of Spalding Australia, Chris Lambert says, “As a key stakeholder of basketball across Australia it is important that Spalding support initiatives such as IBA to foster growth and development in the game amongst our diverse communities.”

“Spalding are proud to provide opportunities for communities at the grass roots level of our game to pick up a basketball and take the court. We hope that our alignment with IBA results in broadening the reach of the game to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” he said.

The IBA will run two key initiatives, kicking off with the Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL). The ICBL will run from February 7 to March 28 and will feature 960 participants across all states and territories (excluding Tasmania and Victoria) and includes players, referees, and coaches. Each participant will get their very own Spalding equipment pack to take home.

'We are thrilled to have the support from an iconic brand that is synonymous with basketball globally in our inaugural year.” said Tyson Demos, Head of Basketball Operations, IBA. “With their long legacy in producing high-quality basketballs and accessories, Spalding will be an integral partner in the rollout of IBA and helping us grow our programs and participation nationally. The most exciting thing for us under this partnership is that EVERY child involved in the ICBL will receive their own basketball to keep, allowing them to practice their skills and be active daily.”

The second initiative is the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT), which is a 1-week tournament and development clinic, hosted on the Gold Coast in April this year. All of which will feature Spalding basketballs and equipment.

For further information on IBA please visit the official website: indigenousbasketballaustralia.com or follow IBA on Instagram and Facebook #OwnYourStory.