Spen Valley Vipers receive Sport England funding boost to help encourage more girls to start playing basketball
A basketball club has received a major funding boost to help grow female participation in the sport.
Sport England has awarded nearly £7,000 to the Spen Valley Vipers to expand its current girls’ sessions by funding new equipment, recruitment and more training for coaches.
A large part of the funding will go towards covering sports hall hire fees, which is the club’s biggest cost. This will enable it to offer free sessions to interested girls across North Kirklees for at least 12 months.
Sessions are currently available for girls aged nine to 12 but the club is looking to expand its offering to girls from the age of six.
Scott Brant, a current men’s open age player for the Spen Valley Vipers whose daughter has been participating in the current girls’ sessions for the past 18 months, said: “We have over 80 men and boys representing the club from U12s through to open age but I am really passionate about ensuring that girls know that there are genuine opportunities for them to try basketball if they express even the slightest interest in playing.
“We currently have a mixed boys and girls’ session due to the costs of sports hall hire, but, understandably, there is some apprehension from new girls to come and explore the sport in a mixed environment.
“This funding will allow us to provide sessions where they can try the sport in a more comfortable environment.”
Spen Valley Vipers was founded in 2010 by brothers Richard and Greg Dolan. It has grown from a few friends playing in the local park to four men’s teams competing regionally and three boys’ teams from under-12s to under-16s competing in national leagues as a member club of Basketball England.
Although the girls’ programme is only in its early stages, the club is exploring entry into under-12 and under-14 league competitions for next season, with the possibility of National Basketball League participation in the future.
Scott said: “While there is a long-term goal to have a genuine pathway into competitive female basketball, right now our focus is on ensuring young girls in our district know that they can come and try basketball in a relaxed and supportive environment.
“This is a project I am extremely passionate about, but I think it’s important for the girls to have a female coach within the setting, so if there are any current or former female players who are looking to get involved in coaching and continuing the growth of the girls’ game at this exciting time, then please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.”
For more information about the coaching sessions, contact the club via its website - spenvalleyvipers.co.uk - or the Spen Valley Vipers Girls Facebook page.