Yateley Silverbacks Basketball Club held its annual Holiday Basketball Camp 10^th – 13^th August 2020, not only attracting youths aged seven to fourteen from the local community, but some of the UK’s top basketball coaches to help train.  Supporting Head Coach and Club Founder, Pete Daines, were:

• Alan Keane: Great Britain U20 Head Coach, Reading Rockets NBL D1 Head Coach and JMA Basketball Academy Head Coach.
• Ian Macleod: British Basketball League Newcastle Eagles Head Coach.
• Billy Beddow: England U15 Boys Head Coach and Canterbury Academy Coach.
• Mark Jarram: Loughborough University Men’s Head Coach, British Basketball League Leicester Riders and Great Britain U20 Men’s Assistant Coach.
• Mark Dayson, National Team Physio at eleven European Championships and at Commonwealth Games.

Thanks to the government approving Basketball England’s ‘return to play’ Level 2 plans, the camp ran almost as it usually would, with Covid-19 restrictions in place. Campers were treated to individual skills and workouts, competitions, matches, video analysis, individual performance analysis and opportunities to learn how to referee and table official.  During the week, Mark Dayson Physio for Canterbury Basketball Academy and Great Britain U20’s gave the players practical advice on conditioning, stretching, warming up and cooling down.

Head Coach and Club Founder Pete Daines said:

“It has been such a great week.  I’m so happy that after lockdown we could put on a camp following all the ‘return to play’ restrictions.  Having worked with all the coaches and support staff with the National Teams over the past eight seasons, it has been incredible having them come to pass on their wisdom, experience and humour to the Silverbacks camp. The players from age fourteen down to the ‘Diddy Dunkers’ have had great fun and learnt so much from some of the best basketball coaches in the whole country.”

Alan Keane, GB U20 Coach and Head Coach of local club Reading Rockets commented:

“It has been a rewarding and pleasurable experience helping out with the coaching. I was genuinely impressed with the enthusiasm and desire to learn from every single camper, despite the heat and young age of some players.”

Ian Macleod: British Basketball League Newcastle Eagles Head Coach reflected:

“After such a difficult three months, it’s been fantastic to see young people come together and play again. The Yateley Silverbacks are a wonderful community club and so important to continue to develop basketball from grassroots.”

Fourteen-year-old Sam Fussey who attended the camp, shared:

“It has been an incredible experience to learn from some of the best coaches in the country. I am truly grateful to all of the coaches for giving up their time to help Mr Daines to allow us to have this camp.”

For more information about joining, supporting or sponsoring Yateley Silverbacks Basketball Club visit: https://yateleysilverbacks.hitssports.com.

Yateley Silverbacks Basketball Club are sponsored by the business behind the Amazon #1 bestselling book I don’t work Fridays available to purchase on Amazon.  Proceeds from book sales are donated to the charity Sands, who support those affected by the death of a baby, and promote research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.

– Ends –

Notes to editors:

About Yateley Silverbacks Basketball Club:

The Yateley Silverbacks Basketball Club is a deep and broad community-based club that develops Men, Women, Children and Youth players.  2019-20 marked the Club’s 10^th anniversary since its launch. In that time, they have won five promotions, two League titles and four Play-off Championships. The club has expanded to have three men’s teams, one ladies’ team and a mixed youth section which has U12, U14 and U16 teams for both boys and girls. It also runs Diddy Dunkers U8 – an introduction to ball skills and basketball. The club has a series of camps for young players during school holidays and a Summer League for all. Over the last two years over 2,000 people have been to watch Silverbacks’ matches in their legendary home court, known as ‘da Jungle’. The club has over 100 members, four qualified coaches, five referees, twelve table officials, and plays in the Wessex Basketball League, itself recently celebrating its 50^thanniversary.

Club founder and Chairman, Pete Daines, Head of Boys Sport at Yateley Manor and current Great Britain U18 Team Manager & pathway coordinator is a former National League player and a current BE registered referee and coach. He is National co-ordinator for Prep Schools Basketball and coaches the South of England U11s. He recently returned from his 6^th European Championship as Head of Delegation for Great Britain and was named South of England Basketball Volunteer of the Year in 2018.  Pete is a former winner of the Eagle FM Radio station ‘Community Sports Hero of the Year’ award for his work with the Silverbacks and the National team.

About I don’t work Fridays:

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Yateley Silverbacks Basketball Club Holiday Camp Coaching Squad:

[From left to right] Billy Beddow, England U15 Boys Head Coach and Canterbury Academy Coach. Alan Keane, Great Britain U20 Head Coach, Reading Rockets NBL D1 Head Coach and JMA Basketball Academy Head Coach. Mark Dayson, Physio for Canterbury Basketball Academy and Great Britain U20’s. Pete Daines Head Coach and Club Founder, Yateley Silverbacks. Ian Macleod, British Basketball League Newcastle Eagles Head Coach.