Basketball builds from bottom up

Good numbers in Hibiscus Coast Basketball Club’s Junior Jammerz and interclub sessions are encouraging for the growth of the sport locally.

Junior Jammerz is for players aged U7 and U9 – promoted as “designed for little hands and big hearts”. 

The programme, held at the Stanmore Bay Pool & Leisure Centre on Sundays, is designed so the young players can always have a ball in their hands, having fun as they develop and build their confidence and skills.

Junior Jammerz head coach, David Goldfinch, says currently there are around 60-70 taking part in two sessions, but numbers are expected to grow in terms 2 and 3, to around 100. 

“They bring their friends to play, and family enjoy socialising on the sidelines, grabbing a coffee or going to the gym.”

Director of basketball, Dan Bungard, says since last year there has been a focus on grass roots level basketball like interclub and Junior Jammerz and there has been a fantastic response.

“It is helping us grow the club, by growing and widening the base of players,” he says.

While there are still more boys than girls taking up the sport, the club has a Girls Academy and encourages girls to play.

A total of 90 young Coast Basketball players are heading to Tauranga over Easter for a rep tournament.

The club has options for basketball players of all levels of ability. Info: www.hibiscuscoast.basketball/