How 3X3 Unites gives young people perspective on and off the Court

In the summer of 2024, Worthy de Jong had the entire Netherlands celebrating with a single shot in overtime during the 3x3 basketball final at the Olympic Games in Paris. Gold! For many, that historic victory was their first introduction to 3x3 basketball.

Jesper Jobse and Mark Schuurman did not need an Olympic gold medal to be convinced of the sport’s impact. Back in 2016, Jobse, a two-time world championship silver medalist and former captain of the Dutch 3x3 national team, and Schuurman co-founded 3X3 Unites, a foundation that uses the sport as a tool to help young people take ownership of their dreams and ambitions.

Winning games is certainly appreciated within 3X3 Unites, but it is not the ultimate goal. What truly matters is equipping young people, primarily between the ages of 15 and 27, with the tools to take control of their future, based on the sport’s core values: teamwork, leadership, and solution-oriented thinking.

The motto of 3X3 Unites says it all: From the streets to the top. “We don’t just want young people to be physically active on the court,” says Schuurman. “We also want them to have opportunities and create opportunities beyond the court.”

At the heart of this approach are young people who are trained to become local role models, known as 3X3 Leaders. They go on to manage their own court, help renovate it if necessary, build a local community, and organize weekly activities for the neighborhood. After all, who understands a community better than someone who grew up there?

Seventeen-year-old Jaimy Jacott is one of these 3X3 Leaders. He first discovered 3X3 Unites two years ago through friends and acquaintances. Having played basketball since childhood, the sporting aspect immediately appealed to him. But it quickly became about much more than basketball.

“I’d had part-time jobs before, but I never really felt like I belonged,” he says from the sidelines of a court in Amsterdam Southeast, where an intense game is underway. “At 3X3 Unites, I really found myself.”

The 3X3 Leader Course lasts nine weeks, Jaimy explains.

“You learn more about yourself and your strengths. You are challenged to recognize life skills from sports and apply them in everyday life. For example, when we worked on communication skills, we designed a drill where you had to cooperate with your team while blindfolded.”

“I’ve become much better at expressing myself,” he continues. “I always knew I was good with words, but speaking in front of an audience? I used to be the person sitting in the back of the room, hoping not to be picked. Now I regularly give presentations to large groups.”

The 3X3 Leader Course concludes with a diploma endorsed by NOC*NSF and the Dutch Basketball Federation, providing official recognition of the development participants have achieved.

“If they actively contribute, they can start in a paid part-time role within the organization,” Schuurman explains. “That way, taking on greater responsibility also brings financial rewards.”

Each 3X3 Leader is assigned a court where they organize activities and mentor other young people. Jaimy does this with a confidence you would not immediately expect from a 17-year-old.

“I want to create opportunities for young people here,” he says firmly. “I want them to know: be patient, your chance will come. In this neighborhood, it can sometimes feel like you’re stuck. I want to show that you’re not.”

3X3 Unites organizes tournaments at every level, with Rabobank serving as title sponsor this year.

The most accessible initiative is the Rabo 3x3 Street League, a free weekly competition held at more than thirty courts across the Netherlands. Open to all ages and requiring no club membership, the league offers everyone the opportunity to participate.

The best teams qualify for the national finals at the 3x3 Festival, where they have the chance to compete in the same arena as international elite teams during the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Masters and the Women’s Series Amsterdam, held this year from June 19 to 21 at the NDSM Wharf in Amsterdam.

“Events have been at the heart of our community for years,” says co-founder Jesper Jobse. “They provide a stage for young people, enthusiasts, and top athletes.”

Co-founder Mark Schuurman adds: “But the real impact happens behind the scenes. The shared goal of 3X3 Unites and Rabobank is to transform the energy of the streets into long-term opportunities. Through our training program, young people move on to sustainable employment. The events are the showcase, but lasting success is found in the personal development of the young people themselves. They are the leaders of the future.”

Looking back on his years with 3X3 Unites, Jaimy smiles.

“Honestly? It feels surreal. I owe so much to that one moment when I said yes. If I hadn’t seized that opportunity, I don’t know where I’d be today. Sometimes a single conversation is enough to set someone on a completely different path.”

The partnership between Rabobank and 3X3 Unites has existed for some time, but it gained renewed momentum this year. Over the next two years, the bank will invest nearly €80 million in health-related initiatives, with a special focus on children and vulnerable groups. 3X3 Unites plays an important role in that effort.

The partnership is no coincidence. Rabobank is a cooperative without shareholders and reinvests part of its profits back into society, focusing on areas where the need is greatest. For the past ten years, 3X3 Unites has been building local communities in vulnerable neighborhoods and is celebrating its anniversary this year.

“We share the same values,” says co-founder Mark Schuurman. “We both believe in the cooperative model and in being as locally present as possible.”

“At Rabobank, we believe sport is a powerful driver of growth and connection,” says Thomas Metz, Head of Sponsorship and Partnerships at Rabobank. “Outdoor sports help young people learn teamwork, deal with winning and losing, persevere, and build self-confidence. These are skills they carry with them throughout their lives.

“We are helping 3X3 Unites strengthen and expand its program so that more young people can come together on courts, develop themselves, and feel part of a community. In this way, we support athletes who are just starting out, talented young people with big dreams, and the role models who inspire others.”