Armenia plans to enter all six European youth basketball championships for the first time in 2027

Basketball Federation of Armenia President Artur Nazaryan has outlined his priorities for developing the sport after his first 100 days in office. Key plans include entering all six European youth championships in 2027, establishing four academies and expanding the player development system.

Nazaryan, who was elected federation president on July 29, 2026, said he had spent his first months meeting coaches, club representatives, sports organisations and international partners. In his assessment, growing interest in basketball and the expansion of youth competitions have been accompanied by continuing challenges in infrastructure, coach education and sustainable funding.

The federation president highlighted regional development and increasing the number of girls playing basketball as areas requiring particular attention.

Six teams at the European championships

According to Nazaryan, Armenia will be represented in all six categories of the FIBA European youth championships for the first time in 2027, fielding male and female teams at U16, U18 and U20 level.

The upcoming European championship debut of Armenia’s U20 women’s team is particularly significant. The federation views it as an important step in the development of women’s basketball.

Nazaryan also set the objective of gradually moving beyond broader participation towards competing for higher places.

European championship preparation to begin years in advance

One of the main changes will be a restructuring of the youth national team development system. According to the federation president, preparations for U16 European championships previously tended to begin three or four months before the tournament. The aim now is to start that work 2.5–3 years in advance.

Development programmes for players under 14 will form the foundation of the system. The federation intends to strengthen the boys’ U14 programme and establish a development pathway for girls of the same age. Plans include regular training sessions, camps, international friendly games and tournaments.

The programme will also include physical fitness assessments and individual player development, in close cooperation with club coaches. Particular attention will be paid to identifying promising children in Armenia’s regions.

Regional development, coaches and school basketball

A Coaches Committee has already been established within the federation. Its work will focus on professional education, further training, studying international experience and developing coaching methods for young players. The federation also plans to continue bringing in international specialists.

Another priority is expanding cooperation with regional and municipal authorities, sports schools and general education schools. The federation hopes to increase the number of children playing basketball and support local teams.

For school basketball, a specific target has been set for 2027: at least 12,000 pupils participating in the Prime Minister’s Cup. To achieve this, organisers intend to involve more schools, particularly those outside the capital.

Four academies and a long-term EuroBasket ambition

As part of a long-term vision for Armenian basketball through 2040, Nazaryan outlined plans for a network of four major academies: two in Yerevan and one each in Gyumri and Vanadzor. Together, they could accommodate around 1,500 children.

Once this system is established, the federation aims to reach the following sporting milestones:

• Within six years, place both the male and female U16 teams among the top 10 in Division B of the European championships.

• Within eight years, move the U16 teams into the top five in Division B.

• Over the same eight-year period, place the male and female U18 and U20 teams among the top 10 in Division B.

• Within ten years, secure appearances for both the senior men’s and women’s national teams at the EuroBasket final tournaments.

Nazaryan stressed that delivering these plans would require investment, modern infrastructure, qualified coaches and competitive domestic championships. He identified the central task as building a sustainable system capable of consistently developing new generations of players.