Leaders of Unites #142 - Thymen Huisman

14 October, 2026

"As a coach, I use the exercises I did during the 3X3 Leader Course."

I was eight years old when I got my diving certificate

My name is Thymen Huisman and I am 20 years old. I was born and raised in Heerhugowaard and, through my mother, developed a passion for basketball at an early age. As a child, I dreamed of a professional career. But when I started secondary school, it became increasingly clear to me that it was not going to happen.

I shifted my attention to another passion that I had also inherited from my mother: aquarium diving. Aquarium divers are hired by zoos to clean aquariums, feed fish and keep an eye on their health.

My mother went on a diving holiday in Egypt with friends every year, and at some point I went along. I was eight years old when I got my diving certificate. But during my training to become an animal keeper, I realised that aquarium diving was not really for me after all.

I did complete the training and specialised in reptiles. But by now I no longer work with animal care. I used the past year to think about what really makes me happy, and I realised that I want to do something with basketball.

Together with a friend, I want to start our own company where we will provide both one-on-one training and team training, although we are still working on writing the business plan. From February onwards, we will both start the Sport & Exercise programme.

As a coach, I can motivate others to reach their personal best

My mother used to play basketball. Because of her, I was already going to the sports hall as a child and developed a love for basketball. I started playing at HBC in Heerhugowaard and later played in Alkmaar and Barneveld. But I have now been back at HBC for three years.

Although I gave up on my dream of becoming a professional basketball player a long time ago, I still enjoy playing basketball myself and working towards something together. I play in the under-22 team and am also a coach of the under-16 team. As a coach, I believe I can motivate others and help them reach their personal best. I really enjoy that.

For me, the basketball court has always been a place where I could be myself and really let loose. Even during difficult periods in my life. My parents’ divorce had a big impact on me. But as soon as I stepped onto the basketball court, I could forget everything for a while. It was a welcome distraction.

As a coach, I use the exercises I did during the 3X3 Leader Course

I did not know about 3X3 Unites yet when I heard last year that a 3X3 Leader Course was being held in Heerhugowaard for the first time. At first, I was interested because it had something to do with basketball, but when I understood that it was mainly about life skills, I knew for sure that it was something for me.

I enjoy working on my life skills and immediately thought that they could also come in handy if I wanted to start my own business. At first, I had my doubts about the exercises, but once I understood the ideas behind them, I understood why we were doing them.

Now that I train a team myself, I use the same exercises. The players line up in pairs next to each other and throw a ball back and forth within each pair. Meanwhile, one player has to walk between the pairs without being hit. It is a very interesting exercise, with many different elements.

Players build a bond with each other by doing things together, they have to learn to recognise each other’s body language and learn something about a person’s character. The players who dare to throw the ball just in front of a passing teammate are often also the people in life who take the first step.

With our company, we want to show others the right path

Although my friend and I are still working on writing the business plan for our company, we already have one player whom we are supporting. He is a boy from the HBC under-16 team that I coach. We help him off the court and do one-on-one training with him. He is the first player we are doing this with.

The three of us wear the same ring with a kind of compass on it. The ring has a symbolic meaning: with our company, we want to show others the right path. At the same time, it is a reminder to ourselves that we also need to keep following the right path.

I want to become the best version of myself

In February, I will start my Sport & Exercise programme. I will go to school one day a week and do an internship four days a week. Hopefully, I can do my internship at 3X3 Unites. Over the past year, I have noticed that it is a place where you are given every opportunity to develop yourself, as long as you are willing to do so yourself.

I have taken part in various workshops and completed the Mentor Course. I also regularly lead activations myself in Heerhugowaard or attend an activation. Next year, I want to continue growing in my role at 3X3 Unites, because I want to become the best version of myself.