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Inside USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.
USA Basketball is an organization made up of organizations. There are five member categories:
Professional:
- Continental Basketball Association
- National Basketball Association
- National Basketball Association Development League
- Women's National Basketball Association.
Collegiate:
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- National Junior College Athletic Association.
Scholastic:
- National Federation of High Schools
Youth:
Associate:
- Athletes In Action
- Basketball Travelers
- College Commissioners Association
- Harlem Globetrotters
- International Sports Exchange
- Latin America League of Los Angeles
- National Amateur Basketball Association
- National Association of Basketball Coaches
- National Basketball Coaches Association
- National Basketball Players Association
- National Junior College Basketball Coach Association
- National Junior College Women's Coach Association
- National Pro-Am City Leagues Association
- National Wheelchair Basketball Association
- Sport Tours International
- USA Deaf Sports Federation
- United States Armed Forces
- Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
USA Basketball was organized in 1974 and known as the Amateur Basketball Association of the United States of America (ABAUSA). The name change to USA Basketball occurred Oct. 12, 1989, shortly after FIBA modified its rules to allow professional basketball players to participate in international competitions. USA Basketball then admitted the NBA as an active member and made the change.
USA Basketball is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors. Jerry Colangelo, 2005-2008 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Managing Director and current Chairman of the NBA Phoenix Suns, serves as Chair of the USA Basketball Board of Directors for the 2009-2012 term. Also members of the Board of Directors are NBA appointees Kim Bohuny, Vice President, Basketball Operations International; Stu Jackson, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations; NCAA appointees Chris Plonsky, University of Texas Women's Athletics Director and Senior Associate Athletic Director of Men's/Women's Athletics External Services; Eugene Smith, Director of Athletics, Ohio State University; and Kevin Weiberg, Chief Executive Officer, NCAA/NBA Youth Initiative; Scholastic Director Robert Kanaby, Executive Director, National High School Federation; At-large/ Independent Director Billy Hunter, Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association; National Organizations Representative Rod Seaford, AAU Charlotte Royals; and athlete representatives Teresa Edwards, a five time Olympian and four time Olympic gold medalist, and Steve Smith, Olympic (2000) and World Championship (1994) gold medalist. Serving on the Board in an ex officio capacity is past USA Basketball President Val Ackerman.
Serving since January 2001 as USA Basketball's Executive Director is Jim Tooley, who has been with USA Basketball since 1993.
During the 2005-2008 quadrennium, 707 men and women players and 147 coaches participated in USA Basketball, including the USA Basketball men's and women's Youth Development Festivals, USA Basketball trials and USA teams.
USA teams competed in 31 major international events from 2005-2008 and won medals an astounding 28 times, including gold or top finishes 22 times, silver four times and bronze medals twice. All told, those teams compiled a sparkling 199-23 win-loss record for an 89.6 winning percentage.
The competitions in which USA teams regularly compete include the Olympics, FIBA World Champion-ships, FIBA Americas Championships, Pan American Games, World University Games, U19 and U17 World Championships, and the Nike Hoop Summit.
USA Basketball also sanctions U.S. basketball team tours of foreign countries and foreign basketball team tours of the U.S., as well as oversees the certification of FIBA and USA Basketball officials and the assignment of those officials to international competitions, and the licensing of players to play professionally overseas.
A brief synopsis of the various competitions USA Basketball teams participate in includes:
Olympic Games
Men's and women's Olympic basketball competition is held every four years (2012, 2016, etc.). The USA captured double gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with both the men's and women's teams compiling 8-0 records. The USA men have captured the gold in 13 of the 16 Olympics they have competed in and compiled an incredible 122-5 record. The USA women have earned the gold in six of the past seven Olympics, including four consecutive, and boast of a sterling 50-3 record. London, England, is the site of the 2012 Summer Games.
FIBA World Championships
FIBA holds World Championships at the senior level every four years (2010, 2014, etc.). Unlike the Olympics when 12 teams participate, 24 countries compete in the World Championship for Men and 16 teams participate in the World Championship for Women. The World Championship title is considered as prestigious as the Olympic title. The USA men compiled an 8-1 record to capture the bronze medal at the 2006 World Championship in Japan, and the USA women also claimed bronze in 2006 with an 8-1 record in Brazil. The next FIBA World Championships are scheduled for 2010 in Turkey for the men and in the Czech Republic for the women.
Pan American Games
Started in 1951 for men and 1955 for women, the Pan American Games are held every four years (2011, 2015, etc.) in the year preceding the Olympics. Only countries from FIBA Americas are eligible to compete. The USA men have compiled an impressive 84-13 overall record, winning eight of a possible 15 gold medals, while the USA women have won seven of 13 gold medals, including 2007, and rolled up a 72-12 record. The next Pan American Games is slated to take place in 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
World University Games
The World University Games are held for men and women every two years (2009, 2011, etc.), only current university student-athletes or recent graduates are eligible. The USA men in 18 appearances have collected 13 gold, three silver and two bronze medals, and the women in 14 appearances have won six gold, six silver and one bronze medal. The 2009 World University Games are scheduled for Belgrade, Serbia.
U19 / U18 Championships
USA Basketball also fields men's and women's national teams for players 19-years-old or younger. FIBA now holds U19 World Championships every two years (2009 for men and women). In 2007 the USA women finished 9-0 to capture gold, the USA men won the silver medal with an 8-1 mark. USA Basketball also fields teams featuring players 18-years-old or younger for FIBA Americas Zone U18 qualifying tournaments.
U17 / U16 Championships
Starting in 2010, USA Basketball will field men's and women's national teams for players 17-years-old or younger. FIBA will conduct a U17 World Championship for men and women every two years beginning in 2010. USA Basketball will also field national teams featuring players 16-years-old or younger for FIBA Americas Zone U16 qualifying tournaments
starting in 2009.
Hoop Summit
The Nike Hoop Summit is the country's premiere annual basketball game featuring America's top boy high school aged players taking on a World Select Team comprised of top players
19-years-old or younger from around the world. Played each April, the USA enjoys an 9-3 series lead. First contested in 1995, the 2010 Nike Hoop Summit will be played on April 10 at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon.
USA Basketball
5465 Mark Dabling Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80918-3842
(719) 590-4800
fanmail@usabasketball.com |
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