The U League is the name chosen for the new sub-22 basketball competitionwhich will begin next October and will preferably be played on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, with the participation of clubs that participate in the Endesa League.
The main details of the league for young players promoted by the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) and the Basketball Club Association (ACB) They were released in an event held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Superior Sports Council (CSD) in Madrid.
Chaired by the Minister of Education, Professional Training and Sports, Pilar joyall the parties involved in this innovative initiative agreed that This is “a historical moment” aimed that young people They can combine their sports career with their academic training.
The president of the Feb, Elisa Aguilarhe acknowledged that this competition seeks to face “to the siege that affects the quarries”Before the escape of talents that have in recent years to the United States University League by offering more attractive proposals to young players.
“We are placing the foundations for the protection of our future and that Spanish players find an ecosystem to develop. It is a armor that is born from everyone's agreement and responds to the same concern”Aguilar explained in his speech.
The teams that sign up for the new competition must have a minimum of six selectable Spanish players, A figure that will rise to seven from the 2027/28 season, and the registered must have been born from 2004 onwards.
The U -League matches will be playedas a rule, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning so they can combine it with the Endesa League and other competitions organized by FEB, as explained by former player José Pozas by revealing the details of the project.
According to Pozas, the 'U' with which the League has been baptized responds to the result of “La Unión” and intends to serve as a link between sport and university. The president of the ACB, Antonio Martín, was convinced that the new project will be “an example for other countries” and that it will be a competition “very funny, with young people with enthusiasm and self -confidence.”
“A transformative project”
“It is another step for someone who wants to play basketball does not have to give up training and to have tools that increase their decision -making capacity about their future,” Martín said. Pilar Alegría agreed that in addition to historical, It is a “transformative” project because it encourages “the bridge between training and education with sport”.
“It will be a successful project, with a clear will to permanence and a vision of medium and long term. It is born of the passion and conviction of several institutions,” said the minister. The U League will have a budget of 15 million euros that will cover the CSDaccording to its president, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes.
