Maxibasket in Finland

Maxibasketball has been played in Finland almost 30 years. The first games started in early 1980´s. We have been active ever since; we´ve participated all World Championship Games with at least one team in each.
Finnish Basketball Association established a Maxibasketball section within the organization right afte our own World Championships 1997.
The function of the body is to look after maxiplayers interests in the association. Maxidivison consists of 5 persons : two female and three gentlemen.
The basic purpose is to arrange Finnish Championship games,tournaments and to inform all maxiplayers about new developements.The information is executed thru the Association´s official magazine which is delivered to all licened players in Finland ( 12000) and the internet of the association. In the printed media we have the possibilty to inform about the coming international and local events on.On regular basis we have 1-2 pages in our use in each issue.
In maxi categories this season we have + 40 teams taking part in Finnish championship games. Our season starts in October and ends in April. We have a mini tournament at the end of the season where we have had teams from Estonia,Russia,Sweden and Finland. The next step will be the Maxichampionship day tournament in autumn 2008 to begin the season.
Our main target and challenge in future is to activate each year new teams and regions to participate official championship games.
There are nice tournaments arranged in Finland where the maxiteams participate; Savonlinna summer-tournament and Lappland Santa Claus tournament over the new year.Some companies play with their own teams against each other and so do the different ministries .
It looks like the companies and the decision makers have realized the meaning of sports to keep people in shape longer and that way have less sick days and more effect in work .
Not to mention the social part of the game which is increasingly important for the players past their careers adjusting their new life to the normal standards.
The maxi movement seems to be growing all the time and we see the future bright and ever stronger .With a lot of work and efforts still laying ahead.

Juha Vettanen
President
FIMBA Europe