Adam Bailey

As the anticipation continues to build ahead of the return of BWB National League later this year, British Wheelchair Basketball has today announced the structure of the 2021/22 BWB National League. 

The 2021/22 season will feature 54 teams across eight divisions when the new campaign gets underway with early October the planned start date, subject to Government and BWB’s Return to Play Guidance. 

Ahead of the season, BWB would like to extend its gratitude to clubs and their volunteers who have tirelessly worked throughout the pandemic to ensure clubs are in a position to enter teams which is reflected in the strong number of team entries. 

Despite the curtailment of the 2019/20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been movement across the National League structure with BWB taking into account the wishes of clubs and each team’s final positions from the season when creating the structure for the upcoming campaign. 

The Premier Division will be made-up of eight teams with Glasgow Rocks and Thames Valley Kings both being promoted to the top-flight having been at the top of Division 1 North and Division 1 South, respectively, before the most recent season was cut short. 

As in recent years, Division 1 and Division 2 are both split into North and South Divisions for the 2021/22 season, while Division 3 again features three divisions – North, Central and South. 

The second team of the newly-named Mohawks, formerly known as the Tees Valley Titans, will play in Division 1 North following their upward movement from Division 2. The Bears will also play in Division 1 North following their move down from the Premier Division. 

High Rollers and Plymouth Fusion, formerly Plymouth Raiders, join Division 1 South having been the top-two teams in Division 2 South. Plymouth Fusion 2 have been moved upwards to Division 2 South as have Swansea Storm and Thames Valley Kings 2 with Blackhawks also joining the division from Division 1. 

Wakefield Whirlwinds 2 and Vikings are both rewarded with promotions to Division 2 North following their strong 2019/20 seasons, with Black Country Knights also being added to the division.  

BWB is delighted to welcome seven new teams to the National League pyramid including Hereward Heat, Leeds Rhinos and Southport Wheelchair Basketball Club who all join Division 3, along with new teams from Aces, Mohawks and Thames Valley Kings. 

Commenting on the return of BWB National League and the strong number of team entries, British Wheelchair Basketball’s Participation Director, Jo Richards said:

“It’s been a really challenging period for everyone over the past 18 months but we’re incredibly proud of how the wheelchair basketball community has come together especially all the hard work and resilience from clubs and their volunteers up-and-down the country. 

“Without their hard work, we wouldn’t be in this position today because it’s fantastic to see so many teams entering into what promises to be another fantastic National League season. The fact that there will only be four fewer teams than during the 2019/20 season shows the appetite from players and teams across the UK to return to playing the sport they all love. 

“It’s going to be amazing to see everyone back playing and we can’t wait for the 2021/22 National League to get started after such a long time without competition.” 

The full 2021/22 structure can be viewed on the National League competition page here.

The Three Kings reigned supreme winning both the Junior and Adult 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball competitions as teams with representation from across the UK competed at the Ball Out 3×3 National Tour event in Leeds. 

The BWB sanctioned event – organised by Ball Out 3×3 – was the first Wheelchair Basketball event to be held in the UK since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Buoyed by the return of competition and the electric atmosphere inside Leeds Carnegie Sports Centre, the four junior teams were first to take to the courts, going head-to-head in the pool stage. 

As competitors from the basketball competitions being held at the event on the same day watched on, the Ball Out 3×3 event provided the perfect stage for the exciting new format of 3×3 with the teams showcasing the fast-paced and thrilling nature of 3×3. 

The Three Kings, Dragons, Hot Shots and the Little Welsh Ladies all played their part in creating a superb competition, but it was The Three Kings who topped the standings at the end of the pool stage, winning all three of their round-robin games. 

3×3 is a sport of fine margins with games often decided by late drama and the second final spot was decided by a single point with Dragons’ one point victory (10-9) over Hot Shots in the opening game the deciding factor in setting-up The Three Kings v Dragons final. 

Only two points separated the pair when the two teams met in the group game, and the final proved to be just as competitive. Both teams gave it their all, but it was The Three Kings who had the edge and maintained their 100 per cent winning record, beating Dragons 10-7 in the Junior final. 

The Three Kings were back in action in the Adult competition during the afternoon session, with the 10 Adult teams split into two pools of five. The Three Kings were one of three teams to win three of their four pool games in Pool A, with Rule of 3 and Fire Dragons also only being defeated once. The Three Kings topped the standings on points difference which saw the players from Thames Valley Kings advance through to their second final of the day. 

It was also an extremely competitive series of round-robin games in Pool B with the second final spot not confirmed until the final game of the pool stage. Heading into the final round of Pool B fixtures, four teams (99 Problems and a Swish Ain’t One, Whirlwinds, Tartan Terrors and 3 of a Kind) could have clinched a place in the final. 

But it came down to the final game with Whirlwinds beating Celts Cymru 12-7 to book their place in the final ahead of Tartan Terrors on points difference. 

The Adult final proved to be another thrilling spectacle with only one point separating the two teams at the end of a brilliant 10 minutes of action. As the final buzzer sounded, it was double delight for The Three Kings as they added the Adult trophy to their Junior title thanks to a 6-5 victory over Whirlwinds. 

Pool B runners-up Tartan Terrors beat Rule of 3, who were second in Pool A, in the 3^rd/4^th play-off game. 

BWB’s Participation Director Jo Richards was at the event and was delighted to be back courtside: 

“It’s been a long wait for everyone involved in the sport to see competitive Wheelchair Basketball return so it’s been fantastic to be courtside again, seeing teams going head-to head, but, most importantly, seeing players back enjoying the sport they love. 

“We’ve got to say a huge thank you to Ball Out 3×3 for being amazing hosts as it’s been a brilliant event and also special thanks to all the officials, coaches, support staff and players who have made today happen.” 

Junior teams: The Three Kings, Dragons, Hot Shots, Little Welsh Ladies 

Adult Teams: The Three Kings, Whirlwinds, Tartan Terrors, Rule of 3, 99 Problems and a Swish Ain’t One, Red Dragons, Ice Dragons, Fire Dragons, 3 of a Kind, Celts Cymru 

Results: https://play.fiba3x3.com/events/e8c0db75-6dcb-4997-994e-dc70a764f076/schedule  

The first BWB sanctioned Wheelchair Basketball event since before the start of the pandemic will take place this weekend with The Ball Out 3×3 National Tour featuring a 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball competition for the first time. 

The Ball Out 3×3 National Tour has been touring across England in recent weeks and the latest stop at Leeds Carnegie Sports Centre on Saturday (7 August) will include Adult and Junior 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball competitions with representation from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. 

Dragons, Hot Shots, Little Welsh Ladies and The Three Kings will contest the Junior competition with each team playing each other once in the pool stage. The top-two teams at the end of the pool stage will then go head-to-head in the junior final. 

The Adult competition will take place in the afternoon with the eight teams split across two groups of four: 

The top-two teams in each pool will qualify for the semi-finals where the top team in each pool will face the second-place team in the opposite group. The winners of the two semi-finals will then meet in the final. 

The competition will not only be an opportunity for players to return to competition for the first time since before the start of the pandemic, but also play the exciting new format of 3×3 which will take centre stage during Wheelchair Basketball’s Commonwealth Games debut at Birmingham 2022 next summer. 

Played on half-court, 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball is quick and intense with teams having just 12 seconds to shoot during each phase of play with games played over a single period of 10 minutes (or less, as the game could end before the end of regular time with the first team scoring 21 points or more winning the game). 

Event schedule: https://play.fiba3x3.com/events/e8c0db75-6dcb-4997-994e-dc70a764f076/schedule  

More information on Ball Out 3×3 can be found on their website: https://www.ball-out.co.uk/  

Wheelchair Basketball clubs across the UK are being invited to host Open Events this summer during what promises to be an exciting summer for the sport as the GB Wheelchair Basketball teams compete at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. 

The Paralympic legacy events, which are being organised through British Wheelchair Basketball’s Inspire a Generation programme, are designed to sign-post anyone inspired by the GB Wheelchair Basketball Team’s Tokyo Paralympics Campaign to find their local club and try the sport. 

Taking place to coincide with the Paralympic Games from 24 August to 5 September, clubs based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales can now sign-up to host one or multiple events. The Open Events will take place across three weekends: 
 
28 & 29 August 
4 & 5 September 
11 & 12 September 
 
To support clubs to deliver their Paralympic Legacy Open Events, British Wheelchair Basketball will provide clubs with an Open Event Pack – which includes 10x volunteer t-shirts and two GB squad signed posters as raffle prizes. 

Clubs will also receive a £100 event grant (one per club) to help towards the cost of their event, along with BWB paid for social media advertising specifically within their own locale. 

The events are an opportunity for clubs to introduce new people to their local club and encourage more people to try wheelchair basketball. 

Clubs can sign-up to host a Paralympic Legacy Open Event from now until Monday 2 August by completing the following form: https://inspireageneration.com/club-paralympic-legacy-sign-up-form/  

To find out more about the Inspire a Generation programme, or to become a Partner, visit www.inspireageneration.com. 

British Wheelchair Basketball will move to Stage 4 of the sport’s Return to Play Matrix on Monday (19 July), permitting wheelchair basketball competitions to return along with recommendations for clubs and participants as they continue their return to play. 

The move to Stage 4 includes amendments to the Matrix for clubs and participants, with recommendations on face masks and lateral flow testing, while social distancing of at least 2m is still recommended at all other times aside from during game play. 

The updated Matrix and full Stage 4 Guidance – including return to competition guidance – can be viewed and downloaded on the Return to Play section of the BWB website (Matrix / Stage 4 Guidance). 

Home Country guidance must always be adhered to including Government and venue guidance on social distancing, the wearing of face masks and maximum capacities. Spectators and parents/carers are now permitted within the court space in compliance with venue guidelines. 

It has been a long 16 months since BWB Competitions were suspended and cancelled but the whole British Wheelchair Basketball community has come together to support each other as the sport moved through its return to play. 

BWB would like to thank all of its clubs and members for all their support, commitment and dedication. 

The first wheelchair basketball competition to be held following the move to Stage 4 will be at Ball Out 3X3’s National Tour event in Leeds on Saturday 7 August. Team entries are still open for both the Adult and Junior 3×3 Wheelchair Basketball competitions (find out more: Ball Out 3X3). 

As announced at the end of the May, the hope is for the 2021/22 BWB National League season to begin on 2 & 3 October, with Junior League and BUCS competitions starting later that month followed by Round 1 of Women’s League in November 2021 (National/Local restrictions dependent). 

The deadline for National, Junior and Women’s League team entries has been extended to Sunday 1 August. Any club wising to enter teams in any BWB National competition will need to contact membership@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk before this date with the name of the team administrator. More information on team entry can be found here. 

British Wheelchair Basketball has today announced the coaches who will lead the 10 Wheelchair Basketball teams with the support of appointed Team Managers at the 2021 School Games National Finals. 

Taking place in Loughborough from 2-5 September 2021, the School Games National Finals will be the first multi-sport event for young athletes following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, and this year the Wheelchair Basketball competition will be played with the new 3X3 format, including separate boys’ and girls’ competitions. 

Each appointed Coach will lead and develop the implementation of 3X3 for each team, including at the athlete selection events taking place later this month (find out more: School Games selection events announced). Each region/Home Nation will also be supported by a Team Manager who will be the key point of contact for athletes. 

The Coaches all bring a wealth of experience to their team with all 10 Coaches involved with BWB clubs or have previously been involved in national junior competitions. Below is a full list of the appointed coaches: 

Wales 

Boys: Caroline Matthews 

Girls: Mike Hayes 

Team Manager: Rebecca Harris 

Scotland 

Boys: Mark Stevenson 

Boys: Conor Smart 

Team Manager: Brian Borland  

England Central 

Boys: Andy Craddock 

Girls: Percy Hutchful 

England South 

Boys: Jack Davey 

Girls: Sean Cullen 

England North 

Boys: Josh Gardner 

Girls: Steve Greatorex 

Craigie Lee-Paterson will also return to join the Safeguarding Team, providing invaluable support and guidance in a role that she has numerous years experience in at the event.

The appointed Coaches will lead the athlete’s selection events which are scheduled for later this month. A full list of trial dates and venues can be viewed here, and all athletes interested in attending must sign-up in advance via Playwaze. Please note: To attend a selection camp, athletes need to be a BWB 2020/21 Member (this includes 2021 Pre-Season Membership).