As part of the Premier League for Sport partnership between Rossendale Raptors and Blackburn Rovers the Raptors will once again be running junior satellite clubs across East Lancashire during 2013-14. The existing sessions at Thorn School in Bacup, Haslingden Sports Centre and All Saints school, Accrington Academy and St Wilfrids in Blackburn, will all continue but will be bigger and better than ever. Sessions are for boys and girls aged 8 to 18 of any ability.
The club are looking for players at all age groups to participate in training sessions. The Raptors have also formed a new junior league to be held on Saturday mornings with the support of Blackburn Rovers and England Basketball to give players the opportunity to put the things they’re learning into competitive games. From this local league the club hope to form National League Junior teams next season to give players the chance to test themselves against the best juniors in the country.
Club Chairman Ken Masser commented; “Our junior programme is the most important part of our club and we put a lot of time and effort into developing our junior programmes across East Lancashire but specifically in Rossendale. We not only want to give young people the chance to play, but also identify those young people who will be playing professionally for the club in the future. It’s a very exciting time for basketball in the area.”
“All young people need to do is check the details of our sessions on the website, check any weekly updates by following the club on Facebook and come along.”
As part of the programme, an exciting new link with Darwen Aldridge Community Academy will also see junior session running after school every Tuesday. The sessions will run from 3:15-4:15 for school year groups 6-8 and 4:14-5:15 for year groups 9-11. Both session will be mixed and available to young people from the Academy and other local schools.
Ken explained why the link with the Academy was one they were excited to pursue; "DACA has a brilliant reputation and we're excited to engage with the young people in Darwen. The school has great facilities and the Premier League for Sport programme will be the perfect way for their students to get involved with basketball and help us expand basketball opportunities for young people in Darwen."