WE ALL Got NeXT

July 31, 2016

 

The NeXT Basketball Foundation began with one single thought: to create a cultural shift in the field of youth athletics by changing how we as a society think, evaluate and compete within youth sports. Our mission is to develop young people for the NeXT phase of their lives through the game of basketball, while at the same time, creating future leaders through community service and community initiatives.

 

We believe you can’t lead until you humble yourself and serve. That is what we want to do, and we want to teach young people to do the same.

 

As we reflect on where we are as a Foundation over the past year (from initial concept to a full-fledged 501(c)(3) organization), we have made remarkable progress. We have established a 15-member Board and a 12-member team staff, including the Ohio State basketball legend Jerry Lucas who has agreed to serve as honorary Executive Director. Our Foundation is a great example of when a vision/message resonates with a group of people at the grassroots level, how swiftly and powerfully it can build momentum and grow. It’s been an unbelievable “365 days.”

 

The NeXT Basketball Foundation has a motto that states: “We All Got NeXT.” Every adult that participates in youth sports has the tremendous responsibility, and opportunity, to aid each player’s parents in properly developing their children — the NeXT generation of adults — to be productive citizens and in becoming actively engaged members within their given community in the future.  We will say it again; our mission is to develop young people for the NeXT phase of their lives through the game of basketball. We at NeXT want to take this important and valuable time in a child’s life, while they’re participating in youth sports, and maximize the impact.

 

Our main objective is to create an environment through community “give-back” initiatives where each young person will develop a heart and mind that is socially conscious, civic minded, and community driven.

 

In the end, basketball is just the “bait,” developing a young person to be a person of significance later in life is the hook, the goal. We at NeXT want more for each child, parent & community where youth athletics are concerned. We want more for youth sports in our country and across the globe. We believe it’s our responsibility. 

 

We believe We All Got NeXT.

 

A look at NeXT Basketball Foundation

iNeXT Initiative

The NeXT Basketball Foundation carries with it the vision to earn a national reputation within five (5) years as the premier, thought-leading organization responsible for reshaping the role of youth sports as a platform for youth development that yields productive young citizens who are actively engaged in their communities. This NeXT initiative is centered upon three specific items that we believe as an organization will enables us to positively impact our community at large, and begin to reshape how we compete, measure success and think concerning youth sports.

We will achieve this vision through three coordinated activities: Innovation & Leadership, Community Outreach, and Basketball Training & Facilities.

NeXT Innovation and Leadership

We will assemble thought leaders in the areas of academia, medical professionals, youth psychologists, nutritionists, parent advocates, innovative coaches and other practitioners interested in youth development to explore a wide variety of topics related to innovations and trends within the youth sports and development fields.  In doing so, we will host national symposiums and lead a national conversation around all things related to youth development and sports.  We will be identified as the leading youth development ‘think tank’ in the country, and play a critical role in re-shaping the direction of youth sports in America by publishing and promoting best practices.  We will develop compelling content (video, audio podcasts, reading lists, NeXT Notes) to reach large audiences in leading the NeXT movement in youth sports and development. Our website will become a destination and critical resource for other enlightened individuals or organizations seeking a new model for the delivery of youth sports.

NeXT Community Outreach

We will lead by example by integrating into all NeXT Basketball programming a component that encourages and promotes community outreach, volunteering and civic engagement.  Using basketball as the ‘bait’ and as a platform for youth engagement, we will channel that energy to teach important life lessons while serving others.  We will combat the ‘culture of entitlement’ that is pervasive in youth today, teaching humility and compassion through community service and civic engagement.

NeXT Basketball Training & Facility

Whether it is team play or via summer clinics, all participants will be effectively coached and engage in a process where several of NeXT’s Core Values will be embraced and reinforced:  the importance of teamwork, promoting a strong work ethic, demonstrating leadership, etc. Our longterm goal is to build a permanent home to fully realize our vision, we will build a seven-court, state-of-the-art facility within seven (7) years to serve as a community anchor in serving our youth.  In doing so, the volume of youth that will be able to participate in our program will explode, as there are severe space limitations today creating significant barriers for expansion.  A shortage of basketball courts across the central Ohio region limits access to the sport and represents a barrier for NeXT’s growth.

We realize our vision, goals and initiatives are large scale and will take a tremendous amount of planning, work and effort on the part of many.  We equally understand the need and the value of this endeavor as well.  In the end, we believe this is our responsibility.

 

We believe We All Got NeXT.