Migrants Basketball Team Coach & Assistant

International Napoli Network (INN) is a cooperative that partners with local public schools and NGOs to provides resources that support health and welfare, environmental conservation, education. Volunteers and interns are placed with partner NGOs and we support you and our partners during your placement.

INN is supporting this experience leaded by a former Italian basketball champion, Massimo Antonelli, who decided to start a basketball team for the sons of the migrants settled in the area of Naples.

This story begins with a handful of teenagers gathered by Massimo on a cracked asphalt basketball court in the grounds of an abandoned holiday resort to start training for the first time.

Founded in Castel Volturno, an area with 25,000 inhabitants of which 5,000 are registered migrants and many thousands more who are undocumented, the premise of the club is that it should be free to join.

Castel Volturno is known for two things; a massacre of eight west Africans by the Casalese mafia in 2008 and a vast complex of illegally built apartment blocks and holiday villas, which now lie partially abandoned. The failed holiday resort, known as Villagio Copolla, has served as one of the main attractions in the region for destitute immigrants searching for somewhere to live. The presence of the mafia has meant work can be found in the shadows, while drug trafficking and sex work thrive along the notorious Strada Domiziana. Moreover, since the 1970s nearby tomato farms have provided informal cash-in-hand work. Underpaid and overworked, these immigrant workers are known to prop up Italy’s agro-economy. In an area where parents struggle to make ends meet and with no other opportunities for young people to distract themselves aside from the local Caritas community centre, this team has emerged as an important project for younger members of Castel Volturno’s immigrant community.

To begin with, a mixed group showed up from different backgrounds but as the weeks went by players whose parents were born in Italy began to drop out, leaving just those whose parents were born in west Africa. Of those who remained, only two had previously been able to afford costly after-school sports activities. It took an hour to walk to training along the Domiziana dual carriageway, but if this was a deterrent for the “Italians”, the remaining players were not going to be put off. Soon, they were training three times a week and begging the coach for longer and longer sessions. As the winter nights closed in on the outdoor court, the players’ initial interest developed into diehard passion just as Massimo had hoped. Little did they know the far-reaching consequences their sporting hunger would have.

Ask to a team player why he loves basketball so much and the 13-year-old says it makes him forget everything and feel free. Such sentiments point to sport’s capacity to heal and to build confidence, empowering young people as they prepare for adult life.

Massimo has relied on support from his basketball peers to donate trainers and organise crowdfunding campaigns to sustain the team. This support helped turn an abandoned sports hall in the area into team’s home court as well as purchase a team bus.

Volunteers could be involved in this projects in three main ways: one on the court assisting coaches, one helping their fuindraising activities and one with the social interaction with the kids helping the psychological support provided to them.

Volunteers don't have to be an experienced coach to get involved; all you need is a general knowledge of the game, and a desire to enjoy the game with the kids.

Volunteers will work with the technical staff who he's in charge to plan and handle training sessions. You'll give a contribution in improving the kids play, helping them in practicing defense and offensive phases, their shooting accuracy. The main goals are increasing the ability of the young players, make them respect rules and strenghten team collaboration and identity.

On the social side of this experience volunteers could give a huge contribution in make them achieve skills such as self confidence, teamwork and discipline. Your presence there could be a precious opportunity to get in touch with another culture and increase their world perspective. Particularly if volunteers have any psychological background or you have sporting experience you could contribute in improving teamwork and collaboration.

If volunteers are not interested in being part of the coaching staff you could help with fundraising activties, in particular in promoting Team's crowdfunding campaigns or in activating new small crowdfunding campaigns among your contacts focused on raise money for buying them sporting apparels or equipment. Grantmaking too is another area of work: we are looking for some donors (corporates donors, sponsorships, grant for proposals) and to create partnerships with other basketball teams around the world.

After the initial orientation, you will have an afternoon shift at your placement and will work for approximately 4  hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays if you're coaching. 

Training are on M/W/F from 4.30 - 8.30 pm. The other days you could support fund raising and communication activties.  

You may therefore plan daily activities which could include sightseeing, shopping or taking Italian language lessons. 

Please notice that according to the partner's need (i.e. matches or training camps) your shift might be requested offer support also on weekends or on Tuesdays and Thursdays too.

Volunteers have the weekends free. Italy is universally recognised for its history, art, culture, cuisine and natural beauty, so there is absolutely no shortage of things to see and do while in Naples or further afield in Italy! Naples has many UNESCO World Heritage sites and volunteers can fill their free time visiting the many historical sites and attractions, tasting the amazing cuisine, sipping espresso in the many café bars or simply exploring parts of Naples by wandering through the beautiful alleys. Rome, home to the Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel, is just an hour from Naples by train, and the ancient ruins of Pompeii or the gorgeous island of Capri are also just 45 minutes away. Nature lovers can hike the nearby Mt. Vesuvius and visit the beautiful Almalfi Coast to complete the “Walk of the Gods”. Volunteers staying for longer durations, or who wish to travel before or after their program, can visit areas further afield in Italy including; Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Milan, Pisa and so much more! Volunteers can make travel arrangements once in Naples, with the advice and guidance of our local staff.