Smooth internal and external circulation, Chinese basketball youth training is poised to break through

From Yu Jiahao going to play in Europe, to Yang Hansen playing in the NBA preseason, to the Chinese Basketball Association reaching a long-term cooperation with NBA China, the growth path of young Chinese basketball talents is accelerating to break through the internal cycle and expand towards a broader world stage.

The youth training layout of the Chinese Basketball Association is also showing a gratifying situation of blossoming both internally and externally. On the one hand, it takes root downwards and reconstructs the youth basketball competition system; on the other hand, it expands outwards and actively integrates into the international cycle of talent training.

In terms of the construction of the domestic youth basketball competition system, focusing on the core goal of establishing a scientific, standardized and efficient youth basketball competition system, the Chinese Basketball Association has made precise efforts and formulated the "Chinese Basketball Youth Competition System Construction Plan" with clear goals. It aims to carefully create a modern youth basketball competition system with Chinese characteristics and continuously cultivate outstanding basketball reserve talents for the country. From extensive participation at the grassroots level to high-level competition at the top, resources from all parties will be fully mobilized to jointly cultivate and discover talents. The complete competition system also paves a solid path for the growth of young basketball talents.

The new competition system has reformed the original Chinese Basketball Association U-series youth competition system and is divided into three levels. At the first level, a new youth national finals will be established; at the second level, a new regional competition will be established to lead and absorb the original National Youth Basketball U Series and the China Middle School Basketball League; at the third level, grassroots competitions will be created in various regions to connect downward to the provincial championships or championships at the provincial level. This forms a unified competition system with clear levels and complete structure. Such a hierarchical design is like tailor-made growth ladders for youth teams of different levels, allowing them to show their style and accumulate experience on a stage that suits their own strengths, and gain something in high-quality competitions.

Since the U15 group competition is an important node in the construction of China's basketball reserve talent echelon, this age group is a watershed for the gradual differentiation of basketball reserve talent growth channels. Taking into account the age factor in the current competition, and also in order to provide young reserve talents with more training opportunities, the Chinese Basketball Association started the pilot from the U15 group, and gradually opened it to other age groups after continuous optimization and improvement.

Judging from relevant data, as of September 26, the Chinese Basketball Association’s U-series youth competitions have held 1,067 games this year. In addition, 5 small basketball regional training camps, 1 small basketball national general training camp and 4 U14 youth basketball regional training camps have been held. These figures are a powerful testimony to the solid advancement and continuous deepening of China's basketball youth training work.

In terms of talent output and training, the Chinese Basketball Association actively guides and encourages young basketball players to go out and pursue their dreams. On October 10, the Chinese Basketball Association and NBA China signed a multi-year cooperation plan, which undoubtedly injected strong impetus into China’s basketball youth training. The person in charge of the Chinese Basketball Association emphasized: "Youth training is the core and most important for the sustainable development of basketball. The system and mechanisms must be straightened out so that young basketball talents can achieve predictable growth." This cooperation plan is an important part of straightening out the youth training mechanism. It opens the door to the world's high-level stage for China's young basketball players with great potential, and will help them broaden their horizons and improve their strength.

In the process of basketball youth training and competitions, the importance of coaches and referees is self-evident. They are the main body for the smooth progress of youth training work and competitions at all levels. The Chinese Basketball Association attaches equal importance to the training of coaches and referees. With the help of a series of training programs held in China, the United States and online, Chinese coaches and referees have fully absorbed all kinds of knowledge and experience, continued to improve their professional qualities, achieved self-improvement, and better laid a solid foundation for Chinese basketball youth training.

It can be said that China's basketball youth training is working hard in every detail, from the reform of the local competition system, international cooperation, to the training of coaches and referees, etc., all are being carefully laid out and promoted solidly. As the person in charge of the Chinese Basketball Association said: "Youth training is the top priority of the Chinese Basketball Association's future work. We must make continued efforts to make Chinese basketball shine."