A group of young people from West Lothian were recently introduced to wheelchair basketball for the first time thanks to a partnership between basketballscotland and the Lord’s Taverners.
The first session came as a new project is launched at Armadale Academy, where a club development programme, national junior league and a schools programme – named ‘Incluzive Zone Basketball’ – will all take place in the coming months.
Tina Gordon, basketballscotland’s Disability Talent and Pathways Manager, was delighted with the success of the launch event and believes the partnership with the Lord’s Taverners will see an increase in young people becoming involved with wheelchair basketball:
“The Lord’s Taverners funding will enable basketballscotland’s wheelchair basketball clubs to grow their junior development programmes by providing more training opportunities and set up a Scottish Junior League, which we’re aiming to start in April. In addition to this, a new school based competition will be established, called ‘Inclusive Zone Basketball’, which we’ll be looking to start at the beginning of the next academic year. This is a 4v4 game combining wheelchair and running basketball on the same court, in zoned off areas, which provides opportunity for inclusion within the sport.”
The support from The Lord’s Taverners will allow basketballscotland to provide more opportunities for players to try out – or compete in – the sport, whilst also raising awareness of the wheelchair basketball in the community.
Regional Development Executive for the Lord’s Taverners in Scotland, Jan Mckenzie, is happy to continue their support of basketballscotland:
“The Lord’s Taverners in Scotland is pleased to continue their support for Scottish Wheelchair Basketball with this grant to assist basketballscotland in developing its junior leagues and competitions.Our aim is to help disadvantaged young people achieve their full potential and we have been delighted to follow the progress of the young athletes who have benefitted from the Lord’s Taverners’ partnership with basketballscotland”.
