3X3 Unites and Rabobank: developing talent through 3x3 basketball

3X3 Unites wants to change that, driven by a clear conviction: young people deserve the opportunity to develop their talent. With 3x3 courts across the Netherlands, the foundation builds communities where young people can support each other and development comes from within. Through the DNA of 3x3 basketball – cooperation, leadership, reflection and solution-oriented thinking – young people develop skills they can use to build their futures.

This way, 3X3 Unites contributes to talent development, social cohesion, and the physical, emotional and mental health of young people. Rabobank supports this mission as a partner.

Mark Schuurman and Jesper Jobse founded 3X3 Unites in 2016. Their starting point: talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. That is why their motto is: ‘From the streets to the Olympics’.

3X3 basketball has been an Olympic sport since 2021. In the world of 3x3 the path from a local court to the highest level is open to everyone.

“Most people know basketball, but 3x3 basketball is actually very different,” says Mark. “This urban sport started on street courts in the United States and has become the largest urban team sport in the world.”

What makes 3x3 unique is that the energy, rules, and culture of the streets remain visible even at the highest level. The game is fast and accessible. Young people can learn to take responsibility, work together and make decisions.

Jesper: “Did you know there are more than 250 million 3x3 basketball players worldwide? It’s growing incredibly fast. That’s not surprising, because it’s a challenging, innovative sport where everyone can join in and develop themselves.”

All over the Netherlands, 3X3 Unites transforms courts into places where young people can play, learn, organize and grow together. What starts with 3x3 basketball can evolve into a strong local community. Because 3x3 is so accessible, anyone can participate: experience or background are irrelevant.

“It’s about so much more than sport,” Mark explains. “In 3x3 basketball you learn to work together, communicate, show leadership, reflect and think in solutions. The things you learn on the court, you take with you into everyday life.”

With these skills, young people work on themselves and actively help build their own community, on and off the court. As a coach, mentor or organizer of activities and events, they contribute to prevention and bring people together. And by creating content, they inspire even more people through social media.

Rabobank is a bank without shareholders. Each year, the bank gives part of its profits to causes that matter to the Netherlands. Over the next two years, the bank will invest nearly 80 million euros in health, focusing especially on children, young people and vulnerable groups.

“At Rabobank we believe that sport is a powerful driver for growth and connection,” says Thomas Metz, Head of Sponsorship and Partnerships at Rabobank. “Outside, young people learn to work together, cope with winning and losing, persevere, and trust in themselves. Skills they carry with them for life. We help 3X3 Unites build their program so that more and more young people come together on courts, are able to grow and develop themselves, and feel part of a community. That way, we’re there for athletes that are just starting out, for talents with big dreams, and for the heroes who inspire others.”

3X3 Unites works with more than 35 municipalities to build local communities across the Netherlands. The foundation trains young coaches, the 3X3 Leaders, who are active in their own neighborhoods, giving training sessions and organizing matches. Rabobank supports this movement as a partner and helps scale the program, enabling a growing number of young people to take part in 3x3 activities and develop their talents and skills.

Rabobank is also the naming partner for all events, from local courts to the highest international level. In the Rabo 3X3 Street League, young people play free matches on courts across the Netherlands. Hundreds of matches for different age groups take place at more than thirty locations every week.

Teams can progress to national and international event via the Rabo 3X3 PRO Cup. The best teams qualify for the 3X3 Festival in Amsterdam, where world-class players, Olympians, and the next generation of players come together.

The impact of 3X3 Unites extends well beyond sport. On courts, young people develop a more active lifestyle, build self-confidence and strengthen their social networks. They learn to take responsibility, work together, face challenges, and create opportunities. It also has a positive effect on the neighborhoods: courts become meeting places where young people feel seen and support each other.

For young people who want to continue their personal growth, the 3X3 Unites Academy offers a next step. Through the leadership program, 3X3 Leaders have access to coaching, workshops, inspiration sessions, and professional development. It helps them become a mentor for other young people, with a focus on mental health, content creator within the community, entrepreneur or professional, both within and beyond the world of sport.

Every young person deserves the chance to develop

Rabobank believes that every child and young person should have the opportunity to play outside, be active, and develop themselves. Physical activity is good for your health, but being active and playing sport outdoors also contributes to self-confidence, social skills, talent development, and equal opportunities. This leads to better prospects. That is why Rabobank invests in initiatives that make exercise and connection in the neighborhood more accessible, so that more young people get the opportunity to play sport, grow, and feel part of a community.