The TIME-OUT education program of the International Basketball Federation -FIBA- celebrated its third graduation this week in Mies, Switzerland, with dozens of elite male and female basketball athletes, including 3×3 players, taking part. A total of 45 athletes received accredited university degrees in collaboration with Northumbria University in the United Kingdom, preparing them for life after their playing careers.
The year-long initiative provides participants with training in sports management, leadership and marketing, with 128 graduates already completing the first two editions. Among them is Spanish player Vega Gimeno, an Olympic silver medallist at the Paris 2024 Games with the women’s 3×3 basketball team. “My ambition is to continue working in basketball, but from a different perspective, off the court,” she explained.
“Projects that promote the growth of basketball”
At 34, Gimeno emphasized that her goal is to focus on player development, event organization and representation, with a particular focus on women’s basketball. “Through the TIME-OUT program I’ve gained essential knowledge in sports management, marketing and leadership, which directly supports my objective of creating projects and initiatives that promote the growth of the sport,” she added.
The forward from Valencia also acknowledged that balancing studies and competition had not been easy. “It has been a demanding period during intense competition phases, although the flexibility and structure of the program made it easier,” she said. “I’ve learned how to be more efficient with my time and to prioritize tasks. This experience has improved me both academically and personally, developing organizational and time management skills.”
Slagter and his mission to “give something back to basketball”
Dutch player Arvin Slagter, Olympic 3×3 champion at Paris 2024, explained that the program was “an opportunity to grow and invest in myself, expand my network and discover what I wanted to do after basketball.” At 39, he is combining his studies with running a youth basketball camp and creating a new 3×3 team in Spain.
Slagter stated that his goal has always been “to give something back to basketball, to inspire and pass on what I have learned to the next generation.” Thanks to the business management course, he said he now has a better understanding of “what happens behind the scenes” in the sport’s organization. “I’m already applying the lessons learned in my own projects, making sure they are professional both on and off the court,” he pointed out.
Goal: “Keeping players within the FIBA ecosystem”
Another graduate was Enis Murati, 2024 3×3 European Champion with Austria, who expressed his wish to work in education and combine basketball with biology. “I want to guide and help others grow, both on and off the court,” explained the 37-year-old. Italian player Chiara Consolini also underlined that her dream is to join the Italian Basketball Federation -FIP- to promote 3×3. “After retiring I would like to remain connected to this world, working in club management as a ‘team manager’ or ‘general manager’,” she added.
The TIME-OUT program was launched in 2017 and takes place every two years, coinciding with the EuroBasket, giving participants first-hand experience of how basketball is managed during competitions. Elisabeth Cebrián Scheurer, Head of Projects and Programs at FIBA Europe and of ‘Women in Basketball’, stressed that the aim is “to identify elite players who want to work in the business of sport and provide them with the education they need.”
“We know how difficult the transition can be for athletes when they retire,” added Cebrián. “Many receive fewer calls or have more empty days, and that’s where this type of program helps them to keep their mind active and to find a purpose after basketball. Our goal is to retain players in the FIBA ecosystem, broaden their vision of the sport and ensure they can contribute to governance in their home countries.”
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