Jeremy Smith brings basketball fun to Graz schools

Jeremy Smith brings basketball fun to Graz schools

The interaction between sport and children is an exciting and educational combination, which appears in a new light thanks to the initiative of Jeremy Smith, a basketball professional from UBSC Graz. At a primary school in Graz, the Nibelungenschule, Smith encouraged third-grade students to be active. His central question, “Are you warmed up yet?”, was answered with a shy “No,” but the children’s energy quickly gave the event a boost. They shouted “Defense” loudly and showed their enthusiasm as a group as they performed the drills.

This very committed project by UBSC Graz aims to convey the joy of sport and exercise. In a total of 18 schools in and around Graz, the basketball professionals are committed to offering children a positive sporting experience. The practices are carried out in the form of four units per school class. This creates an exciting opportunity for children to learn directly from a professional and improve their fitness in the process.

Insights into sports training

The training sessions are a mix of learning and playing. The children are not just spectators, but active participants, which promotes their social and motor skills. Jeremy Smith offers schools something unique: a direct role model who shows them how much fun sport can be. During the sessions, children learn the basic techniques of basketball, learn more about teamwork and develop a better understanding of physical fitness.

The importance of such programs goes beyond the transfer of knowledge. They help children to form social bonds and take on responsibility within a group. In addition, body coordination and mobility are improved, which is crucial for the development of this age group.

Social interaction and team spirit are central aspects that are promoted in these units. The children experience that they are stronger as a team than alone and that they can learn from each other. Such experiences are important for the children's personal development and offer them a stable foundation for future sporting and social challenges.

In times when children are less active and often spend time inactive in front of screens, this project represents a much-needed change. The sporting activities motivate the children to move more and discover the joy of sport. Jeremy Smith's program is a wonderful example of how competitive sport can have a positive influence on youth.

For more information about the activities and their structure, you can consult the current reports on this topic can be read here.