Global Sports Partners representatives and coaches in Saudi Arabia have delivered excellent training in a wide array of sports over the years. One of the newest additions to GSP’s work in Jeddah is pioneering the Jeddah Youth Basketball League, initiated by GSP Representative and TeamUP Coach, Travis Stark.
The Jeddah Youth Basketball League is a grassroots basketball league developed for participation by existing academies in Jeddah. The inaugural season included six teams at the U13 level: TeamUP, Cedar Stars, Swish, Era, Armed, and Jeddah United. Coach Stark worked closely with Coach Hamad of Cedar Stars Academy to find referees, secure playing venues, and communicate with the other coaches.
“The Jeddah Youth U13 Basketball League has proven to be a success by fostering a fun and competitive environment that encourages teamwork, sportsmanship, and a love for the game. This league provides a valuable outlet for young athletes to develop their skills, build confidence, and create lasting friendships.” – Coach Hamad, Head Coach of Cedar Stars Academy
The 2023 season included 60 players from the six participating teams in a group play format followed by semi-final and final championship matches. Teams were divided into two groups of three, playing a double round-robin format (two games versus each team in the group). This regular rhythm of play increased both skill development and the spirit of competition for the young players and their communities. The 2023 League Championship was won by Cedar Stars Academy.
“The 2023 Jeddah Youth Basketball League was a groundbreaking success for the overall future and development of grassroots basketball in Jeddah and KSA. There are some challenges to realizing and developing a sustainable, organized youth basketball league, but I believe we took some important steps to accomplishing it.” – Global Sports Partners Representative and TeamUP Coach, Travis Stark
The league context is a lesser-known format for academies in Jeddah. The 2023 league’s birth was the culmination of months initially spent networking and collaborating. Based on the success of this collaboration, Stark intends to see a second season of the league in 2024. The league aims to add new age groups and girls’ groups, as well as to spark the development of other leagues in the future.
