For more than 15 years, the Jumpball Basketball Programme has been serving the children of Jamaica through a series of free summer basketball clinics and coaching development programs.

Our Mission

Youth throughout Jamaica – like many young people all over the world – face daunting challenges. Their neighborhoods are often fraught with violence, drugs, and other negative influences. Summer brings a break from school, and with it, a break from structured activity for many. Undeserved communities often lack resources for after-school or summer programs and opportunities for summer employment are virtually nonexistent. The children of Jamaica, therefore, have few options to turn to for positive activity over the summer.

Jumpball seeks to provide an opportunity for youth to participate in a fun, structured program and to capitalize on the growing popularity of basketball on the island by using the sport to teach and reinforce positive and valuable life skills while also coaching basketball and athletic fundamentals. This motivation gave rise to the program’s mission:

To provide the children of Jamaica the opportunity to learn self esteem, teamwork, dedication, sportsmanship, camaraderie, and the fundamentals of basketball.

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History

In the summer of 1995, to coincide with a visit to the island by then University of Notre Dame president Father Malloy and the legendary college basketball coach “Digger” Phelps, members of the University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of Jamaica pooled their resources, time, and talents to host a free summer basketball clinic at St. George’s College in Kingston, Jamaica. Based on the energy and enthusiasm generated by this initial effort, Jumpball was born and grew by leaps and bounds the following summer when high school hall of fame coach Ed Pepple volunteered his time to lead the Jumpball Basketball Clinic: Kingston.

During the past several years, Jumpball has become the most successful basketball program in Jamaica for a variety of reasons, including:

• A winning combination of dedicated and experienced coaches from the United States and Jamaica;
• A format that emphasizes lively instruction and competition without ever sacrificing sportsmanship and fun;
• The growing participation of more and more participants; and
• Committed partnerships with generous organizations, loyal sponsors, and passionate individual donors which allows Jumpball to be, as always, free of charge to all participants.

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Our Team

Jumpball is an all-volunteer effort. Our talented and dedicated Jamaican and American coaches, who generously give their time and effort, are largely responsible for the success of the program. Nearly half of the current Jumpball coaches are former Jumpball campers.