Alberta teams have chance to qualify for Jr. NBA World Championship!

Alberta Basketball is excited to announce its involvement with the Jr. NBA World Championship Canada Regional, a series of qualifying competitions for the upcoming Jr. NBA World Championship on Aug. 7-12, 2018 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla. 

Alberta Basketball is hosting provincial games May 11-13 in Calgary, and the Canada West Regional Final June 2 in Edmonton. There will be both boys and girls divisions for teams ages 14 and under. Players must have a birth year of 2004 or later and be 13 or 14 years old as of December 31, 2018.

The Canada West Regional Final will feature the teams that advance from the Alberta and British Columbia provincial games in a single-elimination game. with the winners moving on to compete at the Jr. NBA World Championship Canada Regional Finals on June 15-17 in St. Catharines, Ont. The Jr. NBA World Championship Canada Regional will determine the boys and girls teams that will represent Canada at the Jr. NBA World Championship. 

 
The Jr. NBA World Championship, a first-of-its kind global youth basketball tournament for the top teams ages 14 and under from around the world, will have boys and girls divisions, each comprised of 16 regional teams. Two brackets separated into eight U.S. and eight international teams will compete in a round-robin competition followed by single-elimination tournaments.  Winners of the U.S. and international brackets will play in the championship game on Aug. 12.

All coaches participating in the Jr. NBA World Championship Canada Regional will be required to be trained in Canada Basketball’s National Coaching Certification Program.  The qualification process is in line with Long Term Athlete Development principles with implemented minimum playing time. Games will follow FIBA rules adjusted to eight minute quarters due to the age and stage of development. Youth at the Jr. NBA World Championship will not only compete on the court but will also receive off-court life skills education and participate in NBA Cares community service projects.

Travel expenses for teams in the Jr. NBA World Championship Canada Regional and the Jr. NBA World Championship will be covered by the NBA. Please contact provincial basketball federations for more information regarding qualifying competitions. More information about the Jr. NBA World Championship can be found at jrnba.com/worldchampionship. 

Details about the Alberta provincial games, including tournament draw format, rules, and registration process will be forthcoming.