Community Champion | Paula Foster
Paula Foster from Dundee Madsons recently took it upon herself to organise an U10 basketball tournament, bringing together seven clubs from across Scotland. The event saw three courts buzzing with non-stop basketball action, giving young players a chance to engage in a competitive atmosphere with teams from different regions. Paula, who coaches the U8 and U10 boys at Madsons, supporting around 60 young athletes, believes these experiences are essential for young players to truly immerse themselves in the sport.
Reflecting on the tournament, Paula shared: “I feel there is a massive requirement for them to have the opportunity to play competitively at this age group to keep them fully interested and to fully understand being a competitor in basketball from a young age. We have some amazing athletes that we want to keep in basketball and for it to be their ‘first choice sport.’ I feel the only way to do this is for more game time opportunities.”
Paula has been running in-house tournaments among the Madsons players, but this event marked the first time her athletes competed against other clubs – an experience she describes as vital to fostering their passion for the game and developing teamwork.
“The buzz at the tournament was amazing to see, and it was such a great turnout from teams all over Scotland. It was also good to see where other teams are at in terms of their development at this age group too.” Paula said, adding that she’s already setting her sights on future events.
Paula’s commitment to providing game-time opportunities shows the impact a dedicated coach can have on shaping young players’ journeys in the sport, giving them reasons to make basketball their first choice sport. We look forward to seeing more fantastic events led by Paula and Dundee Madsons, inspiring the next generation of Scottish basketball players.
