September Highlights: A Month of Action Across the Basketball-KTN Network

September was a month of intensive activities for the Basketball-KTN Erasmus+ project, marked by a rich program of technical development and psychological support sessions across multiple countries. From Spain and Greece to Serbia, partners delivered impactful initiatives focusing on player skill-building, mental well-being, and youth empowerment. Here is an overview of the activities from each partner:

Federación de Baloncesto de Castilla-La Mancha (Spain)

Basketball Fundamentals Training (11–28 September 2025)

FBCLM organized six training sessions led by top-level coaches, including former ACB and youth national team coach Jota Cuspinera. These sessions focused on:

• Developing core basketball skills (dribbling, passing, shooting)
• Improving decision-making through small-sided games
• Teaching tactical awareness and teamwork
• Combining theory with on-court practice for over 350 participants

Sessions were held across Albacete, Ciudad Real, and Consuegra, offering high-level training experiences for young athletes and coaches.

Evnikos Sports Club (Greece)

Psychological Training: Stress & Anxiety Management (20 September 2025)

Two workshops brought young athletes together to discuss:

• Sources of stress in sport and how it affects performance
• Techniques for recognizing and managing anxiety
• Coping tools such as visualization, breathing exercises, and positive self-talk
• Real-life applications through open discussion

Delivered by sports psychologist Nikos Georgiadis, this iteration emphasized building mental resilience within the athlete community.

Basketball Skills Fundamentals (13–23 September 2025)

Over 140 participants took part in sessions focusing on:

• Dribbling control and court vision
• Accurate passing and shooting mechanics
• Two-player cooperation (give-and-go, pick-and-roll)
• Communication and balance under game-like conditions

Sessions were guided by an experienced coaching team and supported by basketball expert Vassilis Ntakouris.

University of Belgrade (Serbia)

Emotional Regulation Workshops (17 & 24 September 2025)

Coaches and parents attended training led by Dr. Ana Veskovic focusing on:

• Understanding emotions and their effects on performance
• Anxiety and stress management in youth sports
• Practical tools such as breathing, mindfulness, and reframing

The interactive discussions explored real examples from training and competition.

Balancing School, Sport and Screen Time (17 & 28 September 2025)

This training addressed:

• The role of parents and coaches in managing schedules
• Challenges of excessive screen use for youth athletes
• Practical solutions for time management and focus

With participation of 59 coaches and parents, the session highlighted the importance of holistic development in youth sports.

In Summary

September proved to be a dynamic and impactful month for Basketball-KTN, with more than 550 participants engaging in both development and psychological support activities. The combined efforts of project partners demonstrated the power of integrating skills development, mental resilience, and community support.

Through these initiatives, Basketball-KTN continues to build a new generation of confident, skilled, and well-rounded young athletes—ready to thrive both on and off the court.