Level2: Basic introduction to coaching techniques, this qualification is typically what the local coaches hold, working at minor club level, gives them a general overview of the game.
Level3: This is classed as the advanced coaching award, it furthers the knowledge of the coach allowing them to be able and confident to work with exceptional players.
Level4: This is a brand new award not yet been introduced in Britain, it is due to be launched sometime in the early months of 2003.
As well as these qualifications coaches can obtain National Vocational Qualifications in the sport of basketball. These aren’t such common awards, but they are available after an assessment of the coaches standard
This scheme is also incorporated for awarding referees and table officials.
Promotional grass root schemes
In general British sport has been spearheaded by several schemes in recent years to try and increase Britons ”gold” medallist sports persons through a range of initiatives, designed to boost interaction at a younger age, thus increasing the lower level of the pyramid triangle. Its hoped with a larger participation base that the number of top, elite, persons can be drawn out.
Young people are now getting the opportunity to participate in basketball . On the internet I found two major projects which are designed to do this at the grass root stage.
The first of which is a well known initiative known as the “Active Sports Programme” designed by Sport England and delivered through 45 sports partnerships to deliver this scheme over the spread of the country. Each partnership involves national governing bodies, local authorities and education services.
It is aimed at 12-14 year olds after having experienced or possibly benefited from the earlier schemes implemented into the primary schools.
Active Sports Basketball is a new programme that aims to meet the large unfulfilled demand that already exists in taking young people who play the game into competitive environments. It operates with a “child friendly” atmosphere trying to encourage and include all, particularly in areas where it would not be possible for the youngsters to play due to social, financial reasons etc.
Awards for all is another project that was set up to help small groups with the aid of sponsors and lottery funding. Giving grants of up to £5000, to applicants that have an income of less than £15000.
English basketball is tries to allow for;
Club development
Central venue league
Coach development
Equipment
Range of priorities
This project is largely linked with The RAF Club Development Programme.
The second is known as the Basketball mark offer set up by England Basketball on 0113-236-1166. It awards schools, mainly primary schools on the level upon which they include basketball into the curriculum and as extra curricular activities. This does not particularly provide funding for the schools, simply recognition and ideas etc. On how to increase performance.
Indeed locally St Peters is an example of Basketball academies, offering extensive training and coaching to young hopefuls from top qualified professional. And the local national league team the Birmingham Bullets, offer services the regional community, offering an academy league that is supported by them, offering the Netchells playing hall to hold the league for all college teams and the offer to hold training camps with players
National/ regional competitions
Compared to across seas British basketball is only just beginning to catch up in terms of participation level and skill, still far off the standards of the NBA the “greatest” league in the world. Nationally at professional level playing in the British Basketball League known as the BBL, teams compete regularly for the national title, each major city has a team, the country has a north/south divide upon which the teams are split, this idea forms the basis of all national league games, there is also the BBL Trophy and National cup to compete for. The local BBL team are the Pertemps Birmingham Bullets.
Of course there are leagues underneath this professional standard. Firstly each of the national league teams have teams playing in age limited teams, for example the Bullets have several “age” teams one of which is the under 19`s
The area of West Midlands comprises of Warwickshire, North Staffordshire, South Cheshire and the West midlands. When teams compete in the national league they compete in leagues setup as follows;
Staffordshire
WEBBA
Mens 1st division
Mens 2nd division
Womens division
Birmingham and district
Mens 1st division
Mens 2nd division
Womens division
Coventry
Then after teams progress they move further a field, after winning their area teams play each other for regional and national acclaim.
These divisions are for teams that perform in national leagues, there are minor leagues as well as school competitions and cups.
For example the league upon which Solihull Sixth Form competes in the Birmingham academy league, Playing on a Wednesday in the under 19 category, obviously this and all other competitions run for a younger age group.
At my old school we all competed in the regional cup and in the Solihull borough league.
Each region generally follows this pattern, schools, clubs, area team, regional team, and England.
Doping control and testing
