News

The Board of BW would like to congratulate the players, coaching staff and parental support for their hard work in taking part in the U16 Girls FIBA Competition. The girls played extremely well and should be proud of themselves.
 

The Board of BW would like to congratulate the players, coaching staff and parental support that all combined to bring Bronze medal success for the U16 boys in the division C championships

Basketball Wales would like to wish the GB ladies team the best of luck in their Euro qualifying matches which start on the 8th June. Wales is very proud to have Stef Collins of Wales and Cardiff Met Archers in the squad. Good luck

An exciting opportunity within Basketball Wales has arisen for a Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach and Sports Scientist (voluntary).

The successful candidate will take lead role in the development of the Strength & Conditioning program at Basketball Wales and provide Sports Science support to the National Program.

Role
Strength & Conditioning

Provide S&C support to elite athletes around the country.
To attend national team training, where you will be required to deliver warm-up and cool down procedures, speed and agility drills and any other tasks and the discretion of the Head Coach.
Monitor selected athletes on a weekly basis.
Monitor and conduct a battery of fitness tests designed to cover all aspects of playing performance.
If asked, attend tournaments including European championships (expenses covered)

Sports Science
Conduct workshops when required on aspects of Sports Science
Educate athletes in certain aspects of Sports Science
Manage Sport Science Support when needed

Essential:

Currently undergoing an undergraduate Degree in Strength & Conditioning or Sports Science (BSc)

Demonstrate an understanding of strength and conditioning theory, principles in periodization and practical application.

Ability to effectively program S&C sessions.

Ability to teach Olympic Lifts and speed and agility mechanics

Ability to manage and co-ordinate athletes and programs.

Competent in word processing and use of Microsoft Excel

Excellent communication skills

Flexible working hours (including weekend and evenings)

Driving license and transport availability

Desirable:

Coaching Qualification in Basketball

First Aid Certificate

Experience working within Team Sports

How to apply
Please send tour CV and covering letter to basketballwales.strength@gmail.com.

Closing date: Friday 14th March 2014
Date of interview: Expected Saturday 22nd April 2014

Government group on basketball commissions report into the sport

Monday, 03-Mar-2014

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Basketball (APPG) is investigating "The ability of Basketball to make a difference to the social challenges affecting young people, particularly in the UK's inner cities". The group has issued a 'Call to Evidence' asking organisations running a basketball programme that tackles the social challenges affecting young people in cities across the country to come forward with any information and evidence they have on how their programme addresses these issues.

The APPG hopes that the Inquiry will:

1. highlight the current evidence and the potential of Basketball's ability to rehabilitate disaffected youth, both keeping them off the streets and providing them with life changing opportunities;

2. highlight that Basketball is increasingly being used as an activity to convey a range of positive health and education-related messages to young people;

3. increase the profile of Basketball's achievements at grassroots' level with MPs and Peers;

4. achieve greater recognition of the good work within Basketball-related programmes;

5. encourage funding from widespread sources for effective Basketball-related programmes; and

6. improve the standing of Basketball within the Government, particularly at national level, and in the private and third sectors

Anyone wishing to submit information for inclusion in the Inquiry is asked to forward it to Roy Bent, who is acting on behalf of the APPG, no later than 5:00pm on Friday 14th March 2014. Submissions may be sent either by post/courier to 2 Pine View, Leicester Forest East, Leicester, LE3 3FX and/or via email to roybent68@btinternet.com.

They should be provided in PowerPoint, Word or Excel format, and comprise not more than circa 50 pages. Independent verification of any claims related to the programmes is particularly encouraged, as well as the source identified for such independent verification.

Following a review, a short list of submissions will be selected, and the organisers of those programmes will be invited to make a short presentation to the APPG and invited guests at one of three APPG Hearings to be held at Westminster between 10am and 12pm on successive Tuesdays, 25th March, 1st April and 8th April 2014. All submissions will form part of the final Inquiry Report. Following the presentations an Inquiry Report will be produced by the middle of May 2014.

It is hoped that the information and evidence submitted by programme organisers will provide detailed and compelling evidence of how these basketball, and basketball-related, programmes are succeeding in tackling the difficult social challenges affecting young people, particularly in the UK's inner cities.

Notes

The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry are:

1. To inquire into Basketball in the widest sense and in particular:

a. its interest to disadvantaged young people in UK inner cities, while utilising available participation data from Sport England; Department for Culture, Media & Sport; and other sports organisations;

b. current Basketball-related programmes that are addressing inner city social challenges and/or promoting all aspects of a healthy lifestyle and the importance of education;

c. lessons learned and outcomes from those programmes, and the ability to replicate those outcomes in other locations;

d. origins and sustainability of funding where funding exists for current programmes; and

e. examples from other countries and/or jurisdictions

2.To make recommendations as follows:

a. How such Basketball-related programmes could be better and more effectively delivered;

b. How various government entities might collaborate to provide funding in an efficient and cost effective manner, and sustainably, to use Basketball as a method of engagement and change; and

c. How to bring examples of best practice to the widest audience of partners, potential funders, decision makers, media, etc.

To make a submission for inclusion in the Inquiry:

• Send all information and evidence no later than 5pm on Friday 14th March 2014

• Send all information and evidence to Roy Bent via:

  Email: roybent68@btinternet.com; or 

  Post: 2 Pine View, Leicester Forest East, Leicester, LE3 3FX

3v3 grows in success in its 2nd year, with 46 teams from across Wales entering, from Senior Women's to U14's boys. 156 players battled it out to become the Welsh National 3v3 Champions for their age group at the ENDC Rhondda Fach 1st March 2014. Top honours went to Cardiff in the Senior Women's tournament who pulled off a hard fought win over North Wales to become the first Senior Women's Champions 2014. Vipers came back to defend their title at U18's with a convincing win over Swansea Storm, but this will be the last time that Vipers will be able to defend their title as U18's.

For more photos on all the winning teams visit the Basketball Wales ENDC page on Facebook.

Basketball Wales would like to thank all the volunteers who gave up their time on the day to make the event such a success,. but most of all we would like to thank all the teams that came and took part. Hopefully next year we will see even more teams enter.

Basketball NI 1999/2000 boys played Wales on Saturday 22nd of February and Sunday 23rd. It was an historic weekend for our BNI U15 boys players as De La Salle College in West Belfast hosted the first international games v Wales U15 squad. Led by Head Coach Darren Oakey, the Welsh have made great strides in recent years and this was the start of what we hope will be a special relationship in helping to develop emerging talent.Huddle
The visitors were out of the blocks the quicker of the two teams in the first of a three game series over the weekend with Walker and Horrigan doing damage at the offensive end with some lovely baskets. Wales were leading 17-9 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was a defensive battle with both teams struggling to find their range offensively. John Smye (Belfast Star) kept the home side within touching distance and had 14 out of the teams 26 points at the half. Wales went into the third quarter with a 13 point advantage and extended that to 15 points with a spread of scoring including baskets from Paule and Dudman. Brian McNulty (Tyrone Towers) began to exert himself at the offensive end and along with club mate Darragh Morgan the BNI team came with a late run to close the gap but Wales ended up deserving winners on a score line of BNI 45 – Wales 51.
Later the same afternoon, and with both the BNI coaching staff (Ryan Hayes and Adam Murray from Ballymena) and the Welsh staff rotating their squads, the teams matched up for a second time. The Welsh team included a number of boys from their U14 squad and for BNI the highly talented point guard Matthew Rooney (Queens U14) impressed on his debut with 8 points in the first quarter as did Robbie McAlister (Blackwater Steelers). With Michael Leadley (Letterkenny Blaze) rebounding effectively and debutant Ryan Murtagh making some nice inside moves, the younger Welsh line up trailed 27-16 at the half. Young Welsh stars Kinsey and Merchant kept the visitors within striking distance but the BNI boys grew in confidence and with Pearse Braiden (Lisburn Phoenix) finding his shooting range, the home side ran out winners on a scoreline of 54-37.
With the teams tied at one win each in the series, they squared up again on Sunday for a lunch time decider. In a very entertaining first quarter, both teams competed very well and played some lovely basketball. John Smye kept the scoreboard ticking over once again but Horrigan and Walker kept up the pace for the visitors. Point guard Mark McKearney (Tyrone Towers) knocked down a jump shot and captain Eoin Nagle (Belfast Star) buried a 3 pointer followed by 2 foul shots to push the BNI boys out to a 39-27 advantage at half time. With further baskets by Smye, McNulty, Coran McMonagle (North Star) and Rooney in the 3rd quarter pushing the lead out, the Welsh boys looked a little tired but never gave up and kept competing right until the end. The final score line ended BNI Academy winning the series on a 77 – 46 scoreline.
Many thanks to the many volunteers over the weekend. Head Coach Ryan Hayes (Ballymena Academy) and Assistant Coach Adam Murray for preparing the team so well, Michelle Summersgill, Ruth Neill and Joanne O’Neill for table officiating. DJ and announcer Raymond O’Neill, Gerard Ryan for his generous sponsorship of the water and crisps for our visitors and Jackie Fulton for preparing lunch for the Welsh team on Saturday. Also many thanks to John Coey for organising our referees who did an excellent job.
Finally thanks to all the parents who continue to support the Academy programme and local basketball.
We would like to thank Coach Darren Oakey and his staff for making the journey to Belfast. The Welsh boys competed extremely well and were excellent ambassadors for their country. We wish them well in their preparation for the European Championships this summer.
BNI Academy
Mark McKearney, Darragh Morgan, Brian McNulty (Tyrone Towers); Coran McMonagle (North Star); Eoin Nagle (Captain), John Smye, John Moran, Michael McWilliams, Ethan Gibson (Belfast Star); Matthew Rooney, Daniel Leggett, John Toner, Ryan Murtagh (Queens); Pearse Braiden (Phoenix); Michael Leadley (Blaze), Robbie McAlister (Blackwater Steelers)
Head Coach: Ryan Hayes
Assistant Coach: Adam Murray
Wales
J Freeman, C Hughes, J Harding, K Horrigan, B Merchant, P Igic, J Cooper, I Walker, J Solomon, D Kinsey, T Dudman, G Williams-Rumble, S Affleck, D Koukouravas, R Thomas, S Craig Hughes, T Rhys, I Paule
Head Coach: Darren Oakey
Assistant Coaches: Lee Walker and Adam Williams

Director, BBF: Darren Oakey

Darren started his basketball journey 36 years ago with his local club, Salisbury Suns, where he spent 25 years, moving up from a junior player to eventually the Head Coach, after which he headed the basketball programs at Kings Collage London and Bath University.

In 2009 Darren joined the Welsh National Team as Head Coach and has led teams of all levels at International European competition. He was instrumental in the opening of the Welsh Elite National Development Centre and is at present the Director of Elite Performance.

He became a Board Member of Basketball Wales in 2011, and became an Alternative Board Member of the BBF in 2013, after his involvement in several of the BBF working groups.