Lesley Pilling

DYNAMIK Extend Official Partnership with British Wheelchair Basketball

June 26, 2023 by Lesley Pilling

DYNAMIK are proud to announce that they have extended their partnership with British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB), the governing body for wheelchair basketball in the UK, as their “Official Sports Flooring Partner”.

This is an exciting time for British Wheelchair Basketball, particularly for the GB teams who just returned from the IWBF World Championships in Dubai and will shortly be competing at the European Championships in Rotterdam in August.

DYNAMIK have worked with BWB over the past 5 years to ensure their sports flooring solutions support inclusivity and are accessible for all users of sporting and non-sporting spaces.

Craig Jack, MD DYNAMIK said of the Partnership:

“To be asked to extend our partnership beyond the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games really says a lot about the trust BWB has in our advice over the past 5 years, where we certainly have changed the way in which the UK looks at playing surfaces, in particular the interaction a surface has on wheelchair users rolling resistance, user fatigue and muscle strain, when not installing ideal playing surfaces.

We look forward to working with the BWB team and seeing what we can accomplish together in the future as two British organisations supporting British sport with trusted research and development combined with real-time player feedback, it’s an exciting prospect for both DYNAMIK Sports Floors and British Wheelchair Basketball”.

Justine Baynes, CEO of British Wheelchair Basketball added:

“We are delighted to see our partnership with DYNAMIK continue to grow and today’s announcement has been warmly welcomed by the British Wheelchair Basketball family. We are truly excited to work with DYNAMIK who mirror our passion and commitment to deliver accessible sport, a critical part of which is being able to play on the right surface. The playing surface is vitally important to ensuring our sports participants continued enjoyment of the game.

“We are exceptionally fortunate to work with partners, such as DYNAMIK, who share our fundamental vision that sport has the capacity to transform lives and should be enjoyed by all. Their ongoing support helps us raise awareness about how important accessible facilities are to removing barriers to participation, and hopefully creating a better informed/educated and more inclusive sporting landscape in the UK.”

DYNAMIK are always happy to discuss sports flooring options for your facility and provide trusted advice to make 100% sure it is the correct playing surface to accommodate all users.

In addition to sports flooring solutions, DYNAMIK also have an experienced Aftercare & Maintenance Team who offer advice on the best cleaning products and services, including re-line marking, surface refurbishment, or deep cleaning, to ensure your existing playing surface has ideal slip resistance and is ready for sports and play.

DYNAMIKS Sports floor guidance and maintenance information is also available via the British Wheelchair Basketball website here.

To view DYNAMIK’s extensive range of products and services please visit www.dynamiksportsfloors.co.uk or contact Team DYNAMIK on 0117 301 5120.

British Wheelchair Basketball announces the appointment of Diccon Edwards as its new Performance Director

April 25, 2022 by Lesley Pilling

A critical appointment for the National Governing Body, Edwards will be instrumental in driving forward the delivery of British Wheelchair Basketball’s ambitious Paris Strategy.

He will oversee the facilitation of a strategy that aims to deliver complete system change across the sports high performance landscape; with a clear focus on developing more elite level coaches, identifying and developing a greater breadth and depth of wheelchair basketball talent, and embedding and developing positive cultures and behaviours throughout the GB Programme. Alongside this he will lead the GB teams in their journey to realise international medal successes through to Paris and Beyond.

Excellently qualified to lead this change programme and performance success, Edwards brings to the role extensive elite sport experience from both his professional career within UK Sport and The English Institute of Sport, as well as his accomplished Rugby Union and League playing career.

His career includes roles as Paralympic Coach Advisor for UK Sport during the Rio 2016 cycle and into the Tokyo 2020 cycle, and most recently his current post as Head of Coach Development at UK Sport.

Edwards will take up post from 1^st July 2022, as the GB Performance Programme focuses its training programme on the November World Championships and retaining the Men’s Title as well as securing a podium finish for the GB Women’s Team.

British Wheelchair Basketball CEO, Lisa Pearce commented on the appointment:

“This is a critical moment for our sport, and the appointment of an individual with Diccon’s experience within elite and para sport will be vital in effecting positive cultural change as well as delivering our medal targets. His extensive knowledge of the sector, and his personal experience of team sport and coaching will bring a unique perspective to the Performance Director role.

“The athletes and staff are all delighted to welcome Diccon to the team and are looking forward to working with him to realise the true potential of our sport both domestically and internationally.

On his appointment, Diccon Edwards said:

“It is a privilege to be offered the opportunity to lead the Performance programme and build on the recent successes within the sport. We have a clear vision and strategy to be the leading Wheelchair Basketball nation, to both grow and develop the player pathway and achieve consistent medal success and I am excited to be able to play a part in the future with the team of players and staff”

NEW BRITISH WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE TO BE BROADCAST LIVE

January 11, 2022 by Lesley Pilling

British Wheelchair Basketball has today announced that the BBC will show eight games live across the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League. The British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Premier League will be the first of its kind for women’s wheelchair basketball, and the very first female professional para-sport league in the UK.

The season will begin in January 2022, with Cardiff Met Archers, East London Phoenix, Loughborough Lightning and Worcester Wolves competing for the title. All matches are to be broadcast, either live on the BBC’s digital platforms or through British Wheelchair Basketball’s YouTube channel.

The deal to show the first ever professional para-sport league in the UK is important to ensure disability representation, and for building on the momentum of the Tokyo Paralympics to encourage more disabled people see a pathway for them in sport. Bringing the sport to home audience’s outside of the Paralympic and Commonwealth Games will increase para-sport visibility more than ever before, this time with a new focus on domestic competition.

Lisa Pearce, British Wheelchair Basketball’s Chief Executive, said:

“We are delighted to announce the BBC as the broadcaster for the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League. Wheelchair Basketball is an incredible sport, and it is really important to us that as many people as possible are able to experience the thrill of the game – many for the first time ever as a domestic competition.

“The Paralympics captures the attention of the nation every four years, and we want to build on the brilliance of our elite athletes to showcase wheelchair basketball more frequently. With the new Women’s Premier League, the BBC broadcast commitment will help to profile elite women’s sport and create more opportunities for people to play across all levels.

“The teams include an exciting variety of world-class, established international players and up-and-coming talent, and thanks to the support of the BBC more people than ever will be able to watch the action unfold.”

Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport said:

“This is a significant moment not just for Wheelchair Basketball but for British Paralympic sport as a whole. I’m delighted the BBC is supporting one of our most exciting and dynamic Paralympic sports and helping to showcase some of the best athletes in the world in action.

We are on a mission to create the greatest decade of extraordinary moments; reaching, inspiring and uniting the nation and achieving that will only be possible by making Olympic and Paralympic sport more accessible to the British public more often.

I look forward to watching the league develop and I’m sure we’ll also see the emergence of the next generation of role models who can inspire more people to take up this exciting sport.”

Fixtures and broadcast details for the British Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Premier League:

22/01/2022 13:00 Worcester Wolves v Loughborough Lightning – Live on BBC digital platforms

28/01/2022 19:00 East London Phoenix v Cardiff Met Archers – Live on YouTube

12/02/2022 16:30 East London Phoenix v Loughborough Lightning – Live on YouTube

12/02/2022 15:15 Cardiff Met Archers v Worcester Wolves – Live on YouTube

19/02/2022 16:30 East London Phoenix v Worcester Wolves – Live on YouTube

19/02/2022 18:00 Loughborough Lightning v Cardiff Met Archers – Live on YouTube

26/02/2022 13:00 Worcester Wolves v East London Phoenix – Live on YouTube

26/02/2022 13:00 Cardiff Met Archers v Loughborough Lightning – Live on BBC digital platforms

05/03/2022 13:00 Worcester Wolves v Cardiff Met Archers – Live on YouTube

05/03/2022 16:30 East London Phoenix v Loughborough Lightning – Live on BBC digital platforms

19/03/2022 13:00 Cardiff Met Archers v East London Phoenix – Live on YouTube

02/04/2022 18:00 Loughborough Lightning v Cardiff Met Archers – Live on BBC digital platforms

03/04/2022 12:00 Worcester Wolves v East London Phoenix – Live on BBC digital platforms

09/04/2022 13:00 Cardiff Met Archers v Worcester Wolves – Live on YouTube

09/04/2022 18:00 Loughborough Lightning v East London Phoenix – Live on YouTube

30/04/2022 18:00 Loughborough Lightning v Worcester Wolves – Live on BBC digital platforms

30/04/2022 13:00 East London Phoenix v Cardiff Met Archers – Live on BBC digital platforms

07/05/2022 18:00 Loughborough Lightning v Worcester Wolves – Live on YouTube

14/05/2022 15:00 Play offs / finals – Live on BBC digital platforms

To find out more, visit www.britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/womens-premier-league.

BWB Policies Update

December 17, 2021 by Lesley Pilling

British Wheelchair Basketball continually reviews its policies and procedures to ensure we are implementing strong governance across the sport. The following three British Wheelchair Basketball Policies have been updated and the new versions of the policies are now live on the BWB website. A summary of changes are as follows, but are also highlighted in the individual policies as well:

Data Privacy Notice: Addition of UKAD anti-doping compliance data retention and application.

Codes of Conduct: Addition of BWB Anti-Doping Policy (page 2) and updated anti-doping professional standards.

Eligibility and Classification Policy: Changes include additions to section 4.3 and the process for changing a classification, with the addition of:

4.3.2 Observation in a club or competition environment
4.3.3 Instigated by British Wheelchair Basketball

The updated documents can be viewed here.

You do not need to do anything, the changes to the Policies will come into immediate effect and are available via both our online system and the BWB website.

Statement about European Championships 2021

December 12, 2021 by Lesley Pilling

This morning, the GB Men’s Team have made the difficult decision to forfeit their 2021 European Championship Gold medal game due to be played later today.

As defending Champions this has been a tremendously hard decision that the team has collectively reached. The Team’s priority remains to safeguard the health and wellbeing of not only the GB athletes and staff members, but also of the wider competition community at the 2021 European Championships in Madrid.

Following a confirmed COVID-19 case within the squad this morning, the team member will now undergo 10 days of isolation in Spain.

Throughout the tournament, British Wheelchair Basketball has given all players and staff members the opportunity to return home, should they have any concerns about Covid-19.

British Wheelchair Basketball has consistently prioritised the health and wellbeing of its players and they return home with the full support of the organisation

BWB Announces GB Men and Women’s Squads ahead of the 2021 European Championships

December 2, 2021 by Lesley Pilling

Taking place just four months after the GB teams returned from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, the Championships will take place in Madrid between the 4^th to the 12^th December 2021.

The men’s team, captained by Lee Manning, will see Gaz Choudhry again adopt a player/coach role working with the on-court GB Coaching team of Haj Bhania OBE (Head Coach) and Simon Fisher (Assistant Coach). The squad line up also see’s World Championship Gold Medallist’s Martin Edwards, Simon Brown, Kyle Marsh and Phil Pratt return to GB duty.

The women’s team will see 2019 U25 World Championship Bronze Medallists Jade Atkin and Niamh Horan make their senior squad debut. Head Coach of the GB Women’s Coaching team at the Championships will be three-time Paralympian and established GB programme coach Steve Caine. Assisting Steve in Madrid will be Loughborough Lightning Wheelchair Basketball’s new Head Coach and GB World Champion George Bates, as GB Women’s Assistant Coach.

The GB Men will commence their European Championships Campaign on the 4^th December when they face Israel as their opening game in Group B. Twelve men’s teams will be competing in the 2021 European Championships in two pools (A & B). GB Men’s wheelchair basketball team have a rich history at the European Championships taking the title three times in a row, and the regaining the title in Poland at the 2019 competition.

The GB Women begin their European Championships campaign on 5^th December when they face France. Europe is undoubtedly one of the strongest wheelchair basketball zones in the world, including the Netherlands who GB have faced in the finals at both the 2018 World and 2019 European Championships.

Following today’s Squad Announcement British Wheelchair Basketball Performance Director, Jayne Ellis commented:

“Undoubtedly this has been a unique and challenging 12 months in our international competition calendar – never before have we had to prepare the GB senior teams for two major internationals within six months of one another.

“In Tokyo our GB teams showed the world their grit and determination. Today, I am once again so tremendously proud of this group of incredible, focused and passionate athletes who will represent our nation in Madrid. I continue to be in awe of their dedication and talent, and their sheer determination to deliver world-class performances at the European Championships in December.”

Schedule available at: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/major-competition-hub/

GB Women’s Team

#4 Charlotte Moore (1.0)

#5 Sophie Carrigill (1.0)

#6 Kayla Bell (1.0)

#7 Helen Freeman (4)

#8 Laurie Williams (2.5)

#9 Jude Hamer (4)

#12 Lucy Robinson (4.5)

#14 Joy Haizelden (2.5)

#15 Robyn Love (3.5)

#16 Jade Atkin (4.5)

#17 Niamh Horan (3)

GB Men’s Team

#4 Gaz Choudhry (4.0)

#5 Simon Brown (2.0)

#6 Kyle Marsh (2.0)

#7 Terry Bywater (4.5)

#9 Harry Brown (2.5)

#10 Abdi Jama (1.0)

#11 Phil Pratt (3.0)

#12 Gregg Warburton (2.0)

#15 Ben Fox (3.5)

#16 Jim Palmer (1.0)

#17 Martin Edwards (4.0)

RETURN TO PLAY – STAGE 4 UPDATE

December 1, 2021 by Lesley Pilling

Further to the recent news that COVID-19 precautionary measures are once again to be strengthened British Wheelchair Basketball has taken the decision to make the wearing of face masks mandatory by all participants other than those who are actively participating on-court, this includes officials, coaches, team bench personnel and spectators.

We are also asking that any participant that has been in contact with a household member who either has COVID-19 symptoms (and not yet had a negative PCR test) or has tested positive from COVID-19 does not attend training or competition.

We have always adopted a cautionary approach with regards to our Return to Play Guidance and have been clear that our priority is the health and wellbeing of all our participants within the wheelchair basketball community.

Updated Stage 4 Guidance and Matrix documents, as well as an updated Participant Risk Assessment can be found on the BWB Website COVID-19 Section.

Choudhry shortlisted for 2021’s greatest coaching moment

November 29, 2021 by Lesley Pilling

GB player and three-time Paralympian, Gaz Choudhry, has been shortlisted for 2021’s greatest coaching moment, after taking on the role as player-coach at this summer’s Paralympic Games. The move came after the GB Head Coach Haj Bhania tested positive to Covid-19 prior to the Games and was unable to travel.

Under Gaz’s leadership the GB Men’s team delivered a stunning on court performance in Tokyo, showcasing drama and outstanding wheelchair basketball. He powered the team to consistently deliver win after win, laying down nail-biting second halves against the USA, Canada and Australia which had fans of the sport mesmerised.

British Wheelchair Basketball CEO Lisa Pearce is delighted with Gaz’s well-deserved selection for the Great Coaching Moment of the Year Shortlist:

“The GB men’s team demonstrated the grit and fierce determination that has seen this squad show to the world how powerful great on-court leadership is, and what can be achieved by a united and driven team.

“In the year where anything that can happen, will happen – Gaz without hesitation took a great responsibility on his shoulders to represent his nation and lead his team at a unique and historic Paralympic Games. Undoubtedly this resulted in one of the greatest coaching moments of the year and is a true inspiration to us all.”

The Great Coaching Moment Award is open to public vote and the winner will be announced at next month’s UK Coaching Awards. The award focuses not only on the material successes of coaches but on how they ground their work in putting people first.

On being selected for the shortlist, Choudhry said:

“It’s an absolute honour and privilege to be nominated for such a prestigious award. It’s incredible to be included in the great achievements of the other coaches, especially after the fantastic year of sport that we’ve had.

“Sport has the power to change lives and coaches have a huge role to play in that. I’m humbled and really gracious for the nomination. It’s testament to the achievements of the whole team, not just those selected for the Paralympics, but the entire squad and the support staff too – so thank you.”

To vote for your greatest coaching moment, visit www.ukcoaching.org/gcm-2021. The public vote will close on Monday 6 December.