News

On Saturday 13 May Basketball Wales, Cardiff Met Archers, Tribal Basketball, and Sport Cardiff will be giving 8 to 11-year-olds from Cardiff the opportunity to gain themselves the Basketball Wales Mini Basketball Bronze Award!

The event will be held in the brand-new Archers' Arena on Cardiff Metropolitan University's Cyncoed Campus, the home of Wales' only elite-level basketball squad, the Cardiff Met Archers WBBL (Women's British Basketball League) team! 

The event is completely free and is a great introduction to basketball.

The children who take part will experience top-level teaching from Basketball Wales, Tribal Basketball and Archers Basketball coaches, and will quickly be confident enough to play their parts in fast-paced end-to-end games of one of Britain's fastest-growing sports!

Not only will participants earn their Bronze Awards and learn loads of new skills; they will also get to see the FIBA EuroBasket Trophy as it stops at Cardiff Met on its grand tour before this year's EuroBasket Tournament!

EuroBasket Finals (the European Basketball Tournament) is Europe's top international competition. Taking place every two years, it sees 24 European nations battling it out on the courts to find Europe's basketball champions! And this year we can follow the GB men’s team, they have qualified for the finals and will play Belgium, Turkey, Latvia, Serbia and Russia. The tournament starts on 31 August and ends in Istanbul on 17 September 2017.

The event is open to all primary school children in years 4, 5 and 6 and will run from 12 - 3pm. The Archers' Arena is on Cardiff Metropolitan University's Cyncoed Campus, Cyncoed Road, CF23 6XD.

For more information and book a place please email  bwminibasketball@tribalbasketball.net

 Wales U18 Men National Team ahead of friendly game in March 2017

(photo credit: Karen Solomons)

Wales Under 18’s Men National Team will be the first team in action on the international basketball stage in April ahead of a busy summer for various Welsh youth teams (Under 16’s and Under 18’s men and women). The town of Alytus in Lithuania was chosen as the base for a 5-days-long training camp which includes training sessions and friendly games against local youth teams. The trip is part of the preparation programme for the team that already played two friendly games against Worcester Wolves Under 18 and Cardiff University Select team.

“I am pleased to see how players responded to my requests and how the team is shaping during the training sessions which we had every month since September and during the two friendly games we organised so far”, said Alex Radu who is the Head Coach of the team. He added: “I hope players will bring the same intensity and desire to improve and get better that I have noticed so far into the next three friendly games which we will play during the Easter break in Lithuania. It is going to be a good challenge and I think it is useful to compare ourselves with representatives of a world class basketball country – Lithuania is currently1st in Europe and 2^nd in the FIBA World rankings for Youth Men basketball nations! So I am sure there are plenty of things to learn from this coming trip”.

Wales Under 18 will play the first game against Varenos Bites on Tuesday 18^th April 2017 at 6.00 pm local time and this will followed by the game against Alytus Dzukija BC on Wednesday 19^th April at 5.00 pm. The third game will be scheduled on the last day of the trip (Thursday 20^th April 2017) against Adolfo Ramanausko High School. 

It is with great sadness that British Basketball shares the news that Bill McInnes, interim Chair of British Basketball, passed away on Saturday March 4^th 2017 at the age of 71.

“Bill was a wonderful gentleman and guardian of basketball” Chief Executive Lisa Wainwright said in a statement, “in my very short time of working and being supported by Bill at British Basketball I have learned so much and grown so fond of him. The quickness of his illness has been a shock to many of us and his lovely family who our hearts and love go to. He will be remembered by so many and his legacy within basketball is for us all to continue.”

Kevin Pringle, Chief Executive of Basketball Scotland, also said how much Bill will be missed and how influential he was to Basketball.

“Having known and worked so closely with Bill for such a long time, I am deeply saddened by the news of his passing after a short illness. Our thoughts are with Bill’s family at this extremely difficult time.

“Bill was instrumental in his work, both on and off of the basketball court and will be sorely missed by the whole Scottish Basketball community.”

The sentiments of Wainwright have been echoed by the basketball family.  Bill had a reputation as a genuine, honest, kind, softly spoken and most caring person.

As a player and team captain Bill represented both Scotland and Great Britain on 176 occasions. He started all of his 28 competitive Great Britain games, and was the leading scorer in 8 of them - with a game high of 25 points v Poland in 1968. He was the leading scorer in 1968 event with 119 points in the 7 Euro Pre-Olympic Qualifying games. He was the 2^nd top scorer in 3 other Olympic Qualifying events, finishing with 354 points - 12.6 pt. game average score.

Previously an Area Youth Organiser in Stirling, a Deputy Manager at Meadowbank Sports Centre and latterly the Centre Manager at Wester Hailes Education Centre in Edinburgh; Bill had a strong sports management background. His knowledge and leadership qualities assisted him greatly in the discharge of his duties as Chair of Basketball Scotland and Chair of the British Basketball Federation.

A founder member of the Boroughmuir Basketball Club and a member of the team, who were British Champions in 1972, he also played in club teams that entered the European Cup on five occasions. Bill coached at all levels and was secretary to the Boroughmuir Club since 1961.

Bill was recognised for his services to basketball in the Queens 2000 New Year’s Honours list with an award of an OBE. Bill also served as Chair of the British Basketball Federation, was a member of the National Olympic Committee, Chair of the British Masters Basketball Association and was a Director with Basketball Scotland, which he previously chaired from 1990 to 2008.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go to Bill’s family and friends at this time.

Ian Curryer, Independent Director, will be acting temporarily as interim Chair of British Basketball.

The U23 and senior men national teams held their 5^th camp this weekend at the brand new Cardiff Met Archers Arena and after the camp Head Coach James Bamfield had glowing praise for the progress being made.

“Cardiff Met’s newly built 2 court facility is a beacon for the growth of the sport in Cardiff and Wales and was a fantastic facility for our national team training camp. Working at club level in an area of the UK where we have dusty concrete floors, baskets that don’t work with broken nets, I have a real appreciation for quality venues. As an ex player I know the impact an appropriate floor has on longevity and performance.

The sponsorship deal with Wilson is great news, and the Solution basketballs are really good quality, while the Givova kit gives a professional look to the camps.

We’ve also been able to secure the services of Matt Keen to provide physiotherapy and prehab at our camps. Matt is an ex Welsh international player himself and the players made use of his services and were appreciative of his commitment.

It is really important to me that we put players who are attending camps in a high quality learning environment to maximise their development, both as individuals and as part of our national team moving forward. We have already delivered over 50 on court teaching hours and 3 fixtures during the NBL season. The Basketball Wales board have been fantastic in helping to develop this and I know we are only just scratching the surface of where we want to be. I also want to thank Tommy Walsh our team manager who must take a lot of credit as a real unsung hero.”

The eight hour camp brought together 25 players from the senior and U23 age groups and featured a strong focus on player development, use of the dribble and pick & roll play. There was a continued emphasis on the full court style of play, it is hoped this will become a staple of the national style of play.

Both groups will get together again before Easter with the U23s travelling to Scotland in late April to face both Scotland and Ireland age group sides. The seniors will also visit Scotland in June.

The U23 squad for Scotland is set to be announced shortly with the senior squad decided after the Easter camp.

Alan Duppa

There was some sad news this week as long time veteran Alan Duppa announced his retirement from international basketball. Alan had hoped to add some experience to the squad with a view to 2018 but with the focus now firmly on the Commonwealth Games 2022 he has decided to hang up his boots for good. Everyone at Basketball Wales sends their thanks to Alan for his service to the National Team and good luck for the future. 

Wilson is now the official ball of Basketball Wales and will be used for all our endorsed competitions and events.

This partnership will also see our national team squads supplied with Wilson basketballs for all training sessions and international test matches played in Wales.

The national teams will be training with the Wilson Solution Basketball, the ball has a 100% moisture-absorbing cover which keeps moisture away from players hands. Alongside this it also has two exclusive Wilson Patents, Cushion Core™ and laid in pebbled channels for a softer ultimate feel. A few of our national sides have already been using the new balls in training and the feedback is very positive.

Andy Meddings, Senior Sales Executive for Wilson Team Sports said:

"We are delighted to become the official ball of Basketball Wales on a multi -year agreement.  Wilson want to build partnerships with federations who share our passion for basketball at all levels. Basketball Wales certainly fulfils this criteria as they aim to grow the sport across schools and clubs across Wales.  This partnership is important to us as we aim to establish Wilson as the leading basketball in UK and Europe”.

Wilson is the official ball of FIBA 3 x 3 competition as well as the NCAA Championships and NCAA March Madness.

Gavin Williams from Basketball Wales said:

“Wilson are one of the major basketball brands in the marketplace and we are pleased to be associated with them as we look to increase participation in this great sport. Our national sides have already had a chance to use the balls in training and the feedback is positive.  I’d like to personally thank Amer Sports, who will be servicing the partnership deal between Basketball Wales and Wilson and we look forward to working with them”.

This deal will also offer fantastic opportunities to our affiliated clubs and individual members to purchase Wilson products at preferential prices. Details of how to purchase these products will be announced to our membership very shortly. So watch this space…

About Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co.,a subsidiary of Amer Sports, is one of the world's leading manufacturer of high performance sports equipment, apparel and accessories. Through its dedication to creating products that enable athletes at every level to perform at their best, Wilson has earned its place as a leader in sporting goods for over a century.

Basketball Wales is delighted to announce that former Basketball England CEO, Mr. Keith Mair has been appointed as their new Independent Chair.

When asked about his new role, Keith replied:

"It's a privilege to have been invited to fill the position of Independent Chair for Basketball Wales and to have the opportunity to work with an excellent Board of Directors as we endeavour to grow and raise the profile of the sport. Basketball is the second most popular team sport in the world and we face significant challenges to raise it to a similar position throughout Wales by providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate."     

Keith brings with him a wealth of experience both from the world of basketball and business. Back in his native New Zealand, he coached basketball for some 32 years, 21 years of which were with national teams, including 13 as Head Coach of the Tall Blacks culminating in an appearance at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

He will be working with the rest of the Board of Directors to ensure that the national teams, from under 12s to the senior sides, continue to access the best coaching and training possible as they prepare to compete at the highest level both in Europe and against the other home nations.

Also, as this popular game grows in Wales, the board will be looking to improve access to basketball for all, growing participation in the sport from complete beginners to seasoned players. As well as supporting the development of coaches, referees and table officials.