The Nike Hong Kong Youth Basketball League 2010 will kick off on Saturday at the Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai. The Nike league is one of the most popular tournaments among young basketball players in the city. This year, the Sparq testing method was introduced for the first time to select the best players for the competition and enhance their standards. Sparq is an innovative fitness test which originated in the United States to sell sports equipment. The players took part in a three-day camp to test their skills and athleticism. Yan Siu-chun, a Form Seven student from Diocesan Boys' School who plays in the under-19 category, said the test was useful and completely new. 'We usually do weight-lifting and running for fitness but Sparq provides much more. It helps to improve agility, co-ordination, body balance and reactions. It really opened up my mind about fitness training for basketball,' he said. Siu-chun said the camp allowed him to bond really well with his teammates. 'In a one-day camp, we go home after playing. In an overnight camp, we get to talk with and know more about our teammates. It was a great experience,' he said. There will be an under-22 category this year to help university students get a taste of Nike basketball action. Lee Shu-wing, a Year One student from Hong Kong Polytechnic University who plays in the local A1 division, said it's a great idea. 'There aren't many tournaments for players in universities or other tertiary institutes. This is a perfect opportunity for them,' he said. The tournament consists of under-16, under-19 and under-22 categories for boys and an under-19 category for girls. For more information about the Nike League, visit http://nikeleague.com.hk/
