Hi fellow Keedas, SportsKeeda recently caught up with John David Walsh (JD for all hoopsters and sports buffs like you). JD is an internationally renowned basketball coach involved in popularizing basketball in India. He is planning to open up a Basketball School in India soon. So Keedas, let’s check out what JD has to say about basketball, India, the power of sports as a medium to communicate and much more!
On video… SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO SportsKeeda:
SportsKeeda – Hi JD, Please tell us about you and the work JDBASKETBALL is doing worldwide and particularly in India? How has your experience in India been so far in the context of talent and sports infrastructure as well as the mindset of the people towards Basketball?
JD – I grew up just outside of New York City in Long Island. As my dad was a basketball coach, I have basically been around the game of basketball since birth. After playing at one of the top Universities (University of Maryland) and a short stint semi-professional in Ireland, a back injury shortened my career, so I started coaching.
I started JDBASKETBALL School in New York in 1998 in a small gym on Long Island with ten Kindergartners. The aim was to teach life skills through sports in a high level skill training session’s format. As time went on, we grew and to date have operated the program in eight countries on three continents to over 17,000+ youth and coaches worldwide.
Since coming off the plane and falling in love with India, her basketball development has become my focus and I have been coming back forth quite often. I have conducted clinics in fourteen cities throughout India to estimated about 9,000 youth and coaches. Many of these places I have returned time and time again. I have been fortunate to have worked and done clinics at National Sports Institute (NSNIS, Patiala) for the Basketball Federation of India (at National Junior Championship in Mumbai, 2009), eight state basketball associations (where coaches have actually received certifications), tons of schools, an NGO in Kashmir named Chinar, the Sports Authority of India and the United States Department of State. In 2008 I conducted a workshop with National Team Head Coach, Alexander Bucan in Bangalore at Karnataka Stadium.
Some of the work I am doing has been social education in sport. One project that comes to mind in particular was in 2008 in Chennai with US Department of State using basketball as a means to foster cross cultural relations teaching English to young Muslim women. I have been trying to raise money to build courts and hire full time basketball coach in the slums of Dharavi with head of NFSD ;Jockim Arputham’. For this endeavor, I have been trying to tie in a company to provide laptops for the participants so they can learn job skills as well. Stay tuned, more about that in time…
Clearly, I think the interest in Dr. Naismith’s game is alive and well here in India. Talent will come with more incentive, opportunity and better coaching at the lowest levels. Please do not take the wrong way, I have seen some excellent coaches here too (Ramesh Kelly from NSNIS and Mohit Bhandari (Who I have worked with in Delhi), the assistant coach on the national team stand out — but we need more! It’s the passion of the players and coaches that inspires me and keeps bringing me back here so often. For a coach, it’s a very special feeling to work with talent that is so enthused to learn. I find it a humbling experience to have an opportunity to play a small role in what I hope to be the future legacy and greatness of the next generation of Indian basketball.
Your audience well knows the lack of infrastructure and indoor courts, the limited resource and lack of corporate involvement – so no need to elaborate on that. I will mention that Transstadia is one company looking to build excellent facilities. Companies like these excite me for the future of Indian sport and development.
Things will take time, until then will keep fighting, ‘ek din hoga’!
Sportskeeda – Ek din zaroor hoga, yes! What drives you to different parts of the globe JD promoting basketball?
JD – I think the more you learn about others, the more you can learn about yourself. Life is a journey, and I want each day in my life to be extraordinary. India is a challenge, especially for foreigners, but I find learning everyday and trying to bridge the gap between east and west part of the fun. People here inspire me everyday + obviously, I love basketball. Luckily, I have been able to combine my interest in humanity with my passion for the game. Basketball, sports, art, music, etc. are a really a communication tool that crosses so diverse and political boundaries. – In short, basketball brings people together. The other day I saw a bunch of young kids in Bandra dancing to Michael Jackson in front of a ‘chai walla’ stand, how’s that for interconnectedness?
I spent a year on Wall Street when I first came out of school and I hated it, so I started coaching. The drive behind my motivations comes from a place of divinity that I cannot see or understand- only feel — so I go with it. There was a time a few years back (after working in China basketball) when I wanted to leave basketball to do some business that made a lot more money, but every time the ‘basketball gods’ would pull me back somehow . . .
Sportskeeda – Great to know that the divine forces sent you to India to help the hoopsters here! There are reports that you plan to establish JDBASKETBALL School in India, is that true?
JD – Yes, as a matter of fact, for last few months I have been scouting out potential training grounds and planning on basing in India permanently. It is a challenge as we are still trying to decide if a top notch international basketball training academy is viable. Any industrialists out there want to help us out?
One of the main purposes will be to bring in high level coaches from all over the world and deliver top international training to next generation of Indian coaches.
In the meantime, I am in midst of two year project and sports initiative grant with US Department of State to foster cross cultural relations between US and India. My institutional partner is George Mason University and we are working with a few Indian organizations (Including SDAT- Chennai, West Bengal Basketball Association), Bombay and New Delhi YMCA’s) to conduct onsite programming. Coach,Craig Esherick (former Head Coach at Georgetown and US Olympic team assistant coach 1988) and Dr Bob Baker (both faculty at GMU) and I just completed a week tour in New Delhi and Kolkata conducting basketball clinics at West Bengal Basketball Association and the New Delhi YMCA. The next stage of the grant requires us to work with the BFI to choose ten coaches to visit the US for a two-week training program and we will sustain the coaches’ education program by monitoring their progress with detailed distance learning when they return back to their cities and villages.
SportsKeeda – We hope and wish that your Basketball school comes up soon! What could be done to professionalize Basketball in India?
JD – This is probably a better question for the head of Basketball Federation of India, Mr. Harish Sharma and his team.
But, to skip the MBA school test case example, I feel the interest is large enough and the talent is ready basketball (and sport) in India to flourish. One thing I realize from my time here (since 2007) is that sports is still a luxury for most Indians, so as the economy continue to improve and India takes here rightful place as a superpower – there will be more time for sports & sports business. In that time, I am sure stakeholders will arise, the grassroots will grow and professional league and infrastructure will arise. Every year I read the press release that a professional league is coming, so like most of you waiting to see for myself. Lost in the hoopla (no pun intended!) sometimes is that people forget that sports and entertainment are a business and owners like to make a profit. A telling sign will be as GDP rises; will consumer consumption and interest of sports and entertainment (outside of Bollywood and Cricket) for the middle class also rise?
We also need to start sentences with ‘the solution is….’ Instead of ‘the problem is’
Again, I do not have all the answers, but I am sure some of your readers have some good suggestions . . The best way to reach me is my email [email protected]
SportsKeeda – We could not agree more with those thoughts JD, Could you let us know some hoopsters in India whom you found most promising?
JD – That’s really hard to say. I have seen some talent, most recently, a fifteen-year old boy we just met in Kolkata named Sagar had some good skills. I saw Geeta play in Chennai and I know she’s really good. Of course, the Singh sisters and although I have not seen a whole lot of him, ‘Talwinderjit Singh’ seems to be one of the best on the national team. I keep hearing stories about the legend of Robinson, but I have yet to meet or see him play.
Lately, I have been researching the history of India basketball and finding out some amazing things!
You know, it really hurt watching the FIBA Asia women’s Championship in Chennai watch the women (and men before that) lose to China by such wide margins. So I think the talent levels are all relative. In my opinion for India to catch up to international standard we need to focus on the youth ages 12 and under.
SportsKeeda – Sobering thoughts indeed, assuming you were the coach of Indian Basketball team, what would be steps you would initiate to improve the team’s performance?
JD – Honestly, I think Alexander Bucan and staff does a great job. I have seen some of his practices and games and for the talent they have I think they have a smart strategy to win. They do play hard and compete. The margin for error, especially in FIBA Asia Championships is small. Not to keep repeating, but I think a feeder system that prepares players better for international play is needed. SportsKeeda -Do you feel that the popularity of cricket restrains the growth of other sports such as Basketball in India?
JD – No! I love cricket, and I think it is a great role model to show the excellence of potential greatness of Indian sportsmen. India is such fervent sport culture; I feel there is think there is enough people to go around.
SportsKeeda – We love cricket too @SportKeeda, JD, it’s great to see you so appreciative of other sports as well. Are you actively using the social media to spread the awareness of Basketball in India?
JD – Yes, obviously the web a great way to meet and stay in touch with people. I think its best to keep in mind, that although we use social media to spread the word, the best part of new social media is the offline relationships you can make online.
We are active on Facebook@www.facebook.com/jdbasketball.india as well as
Twitter @jdbasketball, Orkut@jdbasketball & YouTube too and I am excited to announce that we will soon relaunch a new website that provides for much more dialogue and connection for all Indian hoop lovers.
I promise to do a free clinic to the first person in India to email me, after we reach 1000 fans on FaceBook!
BTW Currently, we are looking for some interns who might like to help us in our Indian basketball revolution, if you please do email us at: [email protected] or [email protected] .
SportsKeeda – JDBASKETBALL has a wonderful message ‘Dialogue for mankind’ , what was which has a tremendous relevance today. What was your thought process behind keeping such a powerful line as your message to mankind?
JD- I like to think I use the game of basketball as a communication tool. Once you have an active and engaged audience you can create small passionate teams. I believe small passionate teams can change the world
SportsKeeda – Thank you JD for your time and do you have any message for the readers of SportsKeeda…
I am looking into do a weekly podcast for Indian basketball coaches on strategy and training regimen, if you have some questions, you like me (or some of my friends from the basketball world to respond, please email me).
Guess the Lakers players!
