Basketball Ireland launches Year of Women's Basketball
Basketball Ireland is taking this opportunity to promote Women's Basketball in this country at a maximum level with the support of FIBA Europe, the Department of Art Sport and Tourism and the Irish Sports Council.
A number of key areas for development have been identified in order to ensure the ongoing healthy growth and success of the Women's game in Ireland.
At National Level, Basketball Ireland will appoint a National Co-ordinator who will be required to organise and run all designated initiatives throughout the year in conjunction with the newly appointed Regional Development officers. The coordinator will work on a national and local basis as well as liase with the FIBA Europe YOWB Manager to ensure the realisation of proposed events.
Post-Primary is another key area where Basketball Ireland is hoping to maximise potential in the Women's game. Statistic's published by the ESRI state that most girls who play basketball do so at this level. However, many girls quit upon leaving school and Basketball Ireland will work within the existing schools network with teachers and coaches and identify an agreed number of girls who are not connected with a club and provide coaching back-up, competition and/or participation opportunities and basic administrative support to enable these players to sign up to and participate in a brand new club. Under the initiative, it is proposed that 500 senior girls will be targeted each school year.
As well as Post-Primary, Basketball Ireland plans to target Primary Level Schools in an effort to generate an interest in Basketball and physical exercise in general. The impact of the five basketball activities initiative poster which was introduced into a number schools were proven to have generated increased participation as well as many other benefits such as introducing fun activities outside large groups. It is Basketball Ireland's belief that the introduction of the Basketball Buntus programme into Primary Schools will attract a large number of children to the sport and get them interested from an early age. It is Basketball Ireland's desire to roll out this campaign to the 3,000 primary schools on our database over the next three years and provide them with lesson plans, skills and drills cards to help the youngsters take their first steps into the world of Irish Basketball.
Basketball Ireland is providing substantial support at club level this year also. Research by the Women's Taskforce has established that a large number of females who were involved in the game in the past 15 years have been lost to the sport. However, the leagues still remain strong and the Dublin Ladies Board will be 40 years in existence this year. It is proposed that a special celebration shall be held for this milestone in women's sport and this event shall also showcase a special event under the YOWB banner. The unique event will consist of a weekend of tournament-based basketball in three divisions for teams from across the country and will end in style with a prize-giving gala dinner and celebration. The event will take place in October this year.
Finally it is planned to hold a Women's Conference at which we will provide a foundation and a basic level in training for all females who are interested in coaching, refereeing and table officiating.
It is hoped that when these goals are implemented, it will benefit the game throughout and help attract more investment in the sport. In doing this, Basketball Ireland is hoping to achieve the following:
- Bigger crowds at women's games
- More media attention
- More sponsor interest
- More female participation
- Higher level of image of Women's Basketball
- More focus on the attractiveness of Women's Basketball
- Increase the popularity and recognition of Women's Basketball
- Improved mental and physical health of women
- More female referees and coaches in games
- More respect for Women's Basketball
These initiatives are just some of the many wonderful things being done in the quest for improving the Women's game here in Ireland. It is an already well-established sport, but under the Year of Women's Basketball banner it has the potential to grow even bigger for future generations to enjoy.
Speaking at the Launch, CEO Debbie Massey, who was recently appointed the first female Vice-President of the FIBA Europe Women's Commission, said "Basketball Ireland is delighted to take the opportunity provided to us through the FIBA initiative of the Year of Womens Basketball, along with the necessary financial support, to bring a strong focus onto the women's basketball game. The coming 12 months will see several exciting opportunities to get involved in Basketball being provided to women all around Ireland".
The President of Basketball Ireland, Dr. Tony Colgan was unable to attend but in his speech read by Debbie Massey said, "Sometimes, along with the euphoria of the many great sporting occasions we enjoy as a nation, we can easily lose sight of the fact that our three principal sports are all male-dominated. And no, we are not forgetting the exploits of our great individual athletes such as Sonia O'Sullivan and Derval O'Rourke, but where team sports are concerned, we have a long way to go before we can compare favourably with other nations. Today we in Basketball Ireland are taking one small, but very important, step in redressing the balance."
Further Information:
Mags Moroney, Basketball Ireland, 087 989 2733