News

Smaller Ballers Press release

Press Release

Inspiring and teaching the next generation of Welsh ballers

Smaller Ballers is a new and exciting initiative from Basketball Wales designed to deliver an innovative and fun basketball experience for children aged 5 to 11 years.

The initiative has been developed as our response to The School Sport Survey (2018), where children across Wales were given an opportunity to have their say on sport and wellbeing. As part of the findings, around 25,000 primary school children said that they would love to play basketball if they had the chance.

Lee Coulson, Basketball Wales’ Mini Basketball Director and Smaller Ballers Lead commented:

“I am excited and very proud to be involved with this new Basketball Wales mini basketball initiative. The past 18 months have been extremely difficult for grassroots sport, with many children missing out on physical activity. Through this programme we hope to reach as many children as possible, they will have access to extensive information and video content on the new Smaller Ballers website, teaching them basic basketball skills. They can follow the programme in their own home, and at their own pace. The other great thing about the programme is that it can also be used by basketball clubs and schools who want to develop mini basketball. They will have access to coaching videos covering all basketball fundamentals.

The website, created by Akiko Design, has been developed specifically to appeal to younger players, and is simple to use, with interactive, informative content. There are four main user sections; Player, Parent, School and Club.

Smaller Ballers is working in close partnership with Sport Wales, Akiko Design, Bigfoot Basketball, Starting 5 and Wilson, who are all key supporters of the Smaller Ballers initiative.

Everyone who signs up will receive a basketball starter pack, including a ball and a vest.

Smaller Ballers is fun and engaging and will hopefully energise a whole new generation of basketball players.”

Bringing Smaller Ballers to life would not have been possible without the support of our partners.

This is what they had to say about their involvement:

Richard Lawrence, Sport Wales:

“Sport Wales is thrilled to support this new mini basketball initiative from Basketball Wales. This grassroots, inclusive programme will be a fantastic resource and introduction to basketball for all primary school aged children. Sport Wales are excited to see the continued great work of Basketball Wales in developing the game across Wales.”

David Evans, Managing Director, Akiko:

“We’re grateful that the creative and technical teams at Akiko could help realise the vision of Basketball Wales by developing a vibrant, engaging website that will encourage and support young basketball enthusiasts and their parents.”

Toni Loundes, Bigfoot Basketball:

“Bigfoot Basketball are proud to Partner Basketball Wales on the Smaller Ballers program we’ve seen the enthusiasm for basketball in Wales firsthand, and Smaller Ballers will introduce the sport to a whole new generation.”

Andy Meddings, Category Manager, EMEA Wilson Team Sports:

“As a partner of Basketball Wales, Wilson Sporting Goods are proud to support grassroots basketball by producing and donating balls to the new Smaller Ballers Programme. We hope this commitment helps many primary school children try and enjoy their first experience of basketball.”

Donna Ferguson, CEO, Starting 5 Teamwear:

Starting 5 are pleased to be a partner on the Smaller Ballers initiative from Basketball Wales. Basketball isn’t just a game for adults, and Smaller Ballers is a fun way to captivate the future of Welsh basketball.”

For more information about Smaller Ballers please contact Basketball Wales enquiries@basketball.wales or go to the website www.smallerballers.wales

Basketball Wales

National Governing Body for the sport in Wales. The voluntary board is responsible for growing and sustaining the sport in Wales and to ensure that it’s inclusive and accessible to everyone in every community.

www.basketball.wales

Sport Wales

WE ARE SPORT WALES.
We want Wales to be a more active, healthier nation.
We are the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and physical activity in Wales.

Sport Wales is the main adviser to Welsh Government on sport and supports the delivery of its strategic priorities through the Vision for Sport in Wales and the Sport Wales Strategy.

We also distribute National Lottery grants to enable sport in Wales to thrive, investing in grassroots sport through our community grant schemes.

And we are committed to providing our most promising sportsmen and women with the support required to compete successfully on the highest stage possible.

www.sport.wales

Akiko Design

Branding | Web Design & Digital | 2D & 3D Animation | Website Development | Support & Maintenance | Mobile Apps | eCommerce | SEO | Website Hosting

Akiko is a web design and development agency offering a wide range of services that are all carried out in-house to ensure rapid delivery. Akiko will work with you throughout the whole process. From project scope to pre-launch testing, you will be accompanied by a member of our dedicated team of project managers.

www.akikodesign.com

Wilson

Chicago, USA-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co., a subsidiary of Amer Sports Corporation, is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-performance sports equipment, sportswear and accessories. The Company brings more than
a century of innovation to sport at every level of play. It uses player insights to develop products that push equipment innovation into new territories and empower athletes at every level to perform at their best. In Basketball, Wilson is
the supplier of Official Game Basketballs for the National Basketball Association® (NBA), the Women’s National Basketball Association® (WNBA), National Collegiate Athletic Association® (NCAA) for March Madness and the Final Four, Basketball Champions League (BCL), Basketball Africa League (BAL) and FIBA 3×3. They are also the official ball supplier for Basketball Wales and Basketball England.

Visit www.wilson.com for more information

Bigfoot Basketball

Was opened in 2006, by Toni Loundes, a lifelong fan of the game, from the first game he saw at Crystal Palace in the 1980s, Toni Loundes has been around the game for over 30 years.

In the early 2000s he decided to follow his dream and joined a young UK basketball brand. This gave him his first insight into the behind the scenes of the game, with events to organise, and develop clothing, for the brand for both on and off-court wear.

With the Brand owner leaving the business to pursue other avenues outside basketball, Toni had to start afresh. There was an obvious path to follow, and Bigfoot Basketball was born!

Bigfoot Basketball is now ‘the go-to destination’ for clubs wanting the one stop service. OUR VISION IS A ONE STOP SHOP FOR BASKETBALL CLUBS.
A STORE WHERE A CLUB CAN BUY THEIR KIT, BALLS AND EQUIPMENT. www.bigfootbasketball.co.uk

Starting 5 Basketball

Starting 5 has been supplying the British Basketball family, with kits and teamwear since 2009. Initially, with budget priced kits, as an entry point into the marketplace.

Steadily growing, the Brand have now worked with clubs from local league and CVL levels, through to supplying teamwear for England, Great Britain and South Sudan national teams.

Keeping up with kit design, by adding a Sublimated Kit to your design in 2009. Under the Starting 5 umbrella, there are 3 divisions:
• Starting 5 Teamwear
• Starting 5 Sub, for design your own sublimated teamwear

• Starting 5 Equipment, which produces Nets and Basketballs

www.starting5.co.uk

Basketball Wales logo aw