Beyond the Court: Taking the game global
07/19/2019
Inside Out brings international players to the U.S. to hone their skills in basketball and life.
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Olympics is the biggest worldwide event for professional athletes and spectators. Likewise, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is about to host its own AAU Junior Olympic Games, helping to reach the amateur level of athlete around the world.
However, there are many more global initiatives at the grassroots level that are helping to communicate the language of basketball throughout the world.
Inside Out Training, founded by Kameron Law, is one such initiative, a program aimed at educating youth athletes and showing that basketball is truly a global game. In its third year, Inside Out has partnered with several different organizations in China, including the Shanghai Riptide and the Shanshen Fanglue Select.
Athletes from these cities come to the United States and are coached in game-type situations, participating in events hosted by Jam On It, one of the largest AAU event operators, or other local tournaments. Frequently, Inside Out will coordinate with local teams for some friendly matches or scrimmages.
The main goal of Inside Out training is to provide young athletes an amazing American experience coupled with expanding horizons beyond basketball. Law wants participants to be able to take the game of basketball and see that there are many opportunities beyond actually playing the game. It might be coaching the game, scouting or in an administrative position.
“You are going to get great training [with Inside Out], but more importantly you are going to get great teaching and that’s basketball teaching, but also life teaching as well.” said Law.
Law started Inside Out with his partner Zhang Gengyuan of China. Gengyuan was instrumental in the startup of the NBA Basketball Academy in China many years ago. “Inside Out Training is extremely happy and extremely fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to expand outside of the Florida market.” said Law. “But also we now travel around the country, and have the opportunity to travel around the world and do trainings as well.”
Law credits his success to the some of the basketball coaching legends he has had the privilege to work for in the past. “I originally started with Nate Smith Basketball School for 11 years, based out of Morgantown, West Virignia,” said Law. He also was a student assistant under Bob Huggins, the head coach for men’s basketball at West Virginia, when the Mountaineers went to the 2010 NCAA Final Four.
Afterward, he worked as the Director of Player Development for the RGB Vipers, a Houston Rocket’s affiliate. He then, with the help from Gengyuan, started Inside Out targeting seven-year-olds all the way to the professional level.
Thanks to Law, Inside Out Training Basketball, has a phenomenal foundation built on getting better every day. “That is kind of our motto. Every time we break the huddle we say, ‘get better,’” said Law. “We are trying to get better with basketball. We are trying to get better at life. We are trying to get better as a son or daughter or a student.”
Beyond America and China, Law is hoping to have as many kids as they can from as many different places. Whether it be athletes from China coming to America or vice versa. China and Asia are just the starting points for Law and the Inside Out team. “We want to connect kids from Africa, Europe, South America and give them an opportunity to learn the game of basketball and realize that there is someone across the world that is just like you and has the same common goals,” said Law.
“They might not speak the same language, they might look the exact same as you, but you both have a passion and a love for basketball and we want to bring those together.”
However, there are many more global initiatives at the grassroots level that are helping to communicate the language of basketball throughout the world.
Inside Out Training, founded by Kameron Law, is one such initiative, a program aimed at educating youth athletes and showing that basketball is truly a global game. In its third year, Inside Out has partnered with several different organizations in China, including the Shanghai Riptide and the Shanshen Fanglue Select.
Athletes from these cities come to the United States and are coached in game-type situations, participating in events hosted by Jam On It, one of the largest AAU event operators, or other local tournaments. Frequently, Inside Out will coordinate with local teams for some friendly matches or scrimmages.
The main goal of Inside Out training is to provide young athletes an amazing American experience coupled with expanding horizons beyond basketball. Law wants participants to be able to take the game of basketball and see that there are many opportunities beyond actually playing the game. It might be coaching the game, scouting or in an administrative position.
“You are going to get great training [with Inside Out], but more importantly you are going to get great teaching and that’s basketball teaching, but also life teaching as well.” said Law.
Law started Inside Out with his partner Zhang Gengyuan of China. Gengyuan was instrumental in the startup of the NBA Basketball Academy in China many years ago. “Inside Out Training is extremely happy and extremely fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to expand outside of the Florida market.” said Law. “But also we now travel around the country, and have the opportunity to travel around the world and do trainings as well.”
Law credits his success to the some of the basketball coaching legends he has had the privilege to work for in the past. “I originally started with Nate Smith Basketball School for 11 years, based out of Morgantown, West Virignia,” said Law. He also was a student assistant under Bob Huggins, the head coach for men’s basketball at West Virginia, when the Mountaineers went to the 2010 NCAA Final Four.
Afterward, he worked as the Director of Player Development for the RGB Vipers, a Houston Rocket’s affiliate. He then, with the help from Gengyuan, started Inside Out targeting seven-year-olds all the way to the professional level.
Thanks to Law, Inside Out Training Basketball, has a phenomenal foundation built on getting better every day. “That is kind of our motto. Every time we break the huddle we say, ‘get better,’” said Law. “We are trying to get better with basketball. We are trying to get better at life. We are trying to get better as a son or daughter or a student.”
Beyond America and China, Law is hoping to have as many kids as they can from as many different places. Whether it be athletes from China coming to America or vice versa. China and Asia are just the starting points for Law and the Inside Out team. “We want to connect kids from Africa, Europe, South America and give them an opportunity to learn the game of basketball and realize that there is someone across the world that is just like you and has the same common goals,” said Law.
“They might not speak the same language, they might look the exact same as you, but you both have a passion and a love for basketball and we want to bring those together.”
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