Antoine Laureau launched Lynx Basketball in May 2025 to establish a local club for the Haut-Allier region, where residents previously faced a 45-minute drive to reach the nearest basketball organization. Laureau, a 36-year-old coach with three decades of playing experience, developed the association alongside co-president David Zagato to expand youth and adult access to the sport in Lozère.
Building a Basketball Club in Langogne
Having lived in Langogne since 2020, Laureau identified a clear gap in local sports infrastructure. The absence of any basketball club within a 45-minute radius prompted him to build a structure from scratch. A certified animator, physical trainer, and youth coach through the French Basketball Federation, Laureau shaped the initiative around his own background in the sport. “I want to offer young people everything I received as support from my various coaches, and all the people who trusted me,” Laureau said.
Introducing Youth Workshops in Local Schools
Lynx Basketball expanded its outreach at the start of the school year by launching training workshops for young students at École Jeanne-d’Arc, specifically targeting children in CP, CE1, and CE2 classes. Laureau leads these sessions to introduce the sport while supporting motor coordination and multisensory awakening. “School interventions also make it possible to work on motor coordination and multisensory awakening, while introducing children to the discipline,” Laureau said.
Phased Development Plans for Haut-Allier
The association is building partnerships with local families, schools, municipalities, basketball authorities, and community partners to scale its programs. Lynx Basketball plans to roll out its competitive structure in phases, starting with 3-on-3 play before advancing to local tournaments, and eventually introducing 5-on-5 competition. The club also aims to lower barriers to entry for female athletes across the region. “The project will start with 3 against 3, with the desire to participate in tournaments then, eventually, to organize them locally, before considering 5 against 5,” Laureau noted. “Lynx Basketball also intends to facilitate access to practice for girls and women.”
