NMIBF brings Next Play Basketball Program to Tinian

The NMI Basketball Federation brought the Her World, Her Rules Next Play Program to Tinian from Nov. 7-9.

The program was led by national basketball player Mikki Kautz, who took part in FIBA Oceania’s Women in Leadership (WiLead) program earlier this year. As part of WiLead, she was tasked with creating a project, and she wanted to make sure both Tinian and Rota were included in any new grassroots initiatives.

After hosting the program on Saipan last month that didn’t yield a lot of participants, the turnout on Tinian was amazing, said Kautz. Their target groups were elementary school boys and girls, and middle school and high school girls, as well as coaches and officials of all ages.

Kautz said, “The turnout in Tinian was amazing, especially the number of kids and girls who came out to participate. It was more than we expected. We couldn’t have done it without the support of Coach John and Corrine Santos, as well as Monika Diaz of Team Koka and Chavelyn Epity. I am so grateful for their help and dedication to serving their community. I also had a lot of help from Marlene [Lumabi], Sylvina Simram, and Sha Aina Mendoza on facilitating the clinics and scrimmages.”

Even if the turnout wasn’t as strong on Saipan, she said they still conducted meaningful presentations on injury prevention, coaching fundamentals, and community level officiating with the help of Denise Meyers and Marlene Lumabi. Those sessions were streamed to the Tinian participants beforehand so when the NMIBF team got to Tinian, it was all on the court sessions with them.

The program, Kautz said, aligns perfectly with the NMIBF’s missions to grow basketball across the CNMI. “One thing I'd love to see, and hope for, is a future national team with players hailing from Rota and Tinian. Reinforcing that young children and women have spaces within these communities is important for the growth and reach of the game. Within these spaces we can encourage the participation of organized sports where it is not just about staying healthy but to build teamwork, coordination, and confidence, all of which help our youth both on and off the court,” said Kautz.

The skill level on Tinian, she said, is very promising. “There’s talent across all age groups from elementary to high school, both boys and girls. My hope is that they continue to stay active, work hard, and remain committed to developing as athletes. As part of the program, the girls played in 3x3 scrimmages, which was great exposure as NMIBF hopes to grow that variation of basketball in the CNMI,” she said.

As for the Tinian community’s response to the program, Kautz said they’ve been more than welcoming. She said, “John and Corrine are no strangers to basketball here in Saipan, and we knew how involved they were in the community. Their support and the community’s enthusiasm made it a great experience and we look forward to working with them in the future. Marlene and I are currently coordinating our visit to Rota, so we hope we can achieve a similar turnout there.”

With the question of how young players can continue developing their skills after the program, Kautz said that through the FIBA Oceania’s Women in Leadership (WiLead) program she joined, they provided basketballs, and she was able to distribute 12 women’s-sized basketballs to the Tinian community to use. As for individual development, she said, “practicing regularly and setting small, achievable goals are great ways to continue improving. I also encourage players, coaches, and officials to keep observing and learning from the game. Staying active, working on strength and coordination, and most importantly maintaining a positive attitude will help them continue to grow as athletes and enjoy the sport.”

The Rota program dates have yet to be determined.

By Leigh Gases