This summer the London Lions Basketball Sports Foundation will be offering free basketball coaching on four outdoor courts in East London.
The programme will be kick-started by a series of roadshows, which will be followed by free coaching sessions for young people from the age of seven to 19. The coaching will be led by local Lions player Laurent Irish, and the young players will then have an opportunity to hone their skills and then engage in three on three games.
The programme is supported by the Canary Wharf Group plc , East Village, Lend Lease’s The International Quarter, L&Q Foundation, Chobham Manor LLP and Taylor Wimpey. Many of these funding bodies have been able to draw substantial sums from the Olympics and/or other publicly funded initiatives, so it is good to see a little of this money going back to public events.
All those who attend coaching sessions will also receive tickets for the London Lions’ first game of the 2014 season at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday, 6th September against Euro League team PGE Turow from Poland. The winners of the three on three tournament at the end of the programme will get the chance to play in front of up to 7,000 Lions fans during half time at this game.
Lions Chief Executive, Vince Macaulay said: “This is a great way to reach out to the young people, they can play basketball on the courts and imagine themselves taking the main stage at the Copper Box Arena. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the venue when they can meet the players and enjoy the evening, thanks to Canary Wharf Group plc , East Village, Lend Lease’s The International Quarter, L&Q Foundation, Chobham Manor LLP and Taylor Wimpey for making this possible.”
•For more information about the London Lions, go to www.londonlionsbasketball.com.
Roadshows
Date: Saturday 16th August Time: 10am-1.30pm Location: St Johns Park Sports Cage, Manchester Road, E14
Time: 3pm-6.30pm Location: Adizone, Mabley Green, Lee Conservancy Road, London E9 5RN
Date: Sunday 17th August Time: 12 noon-4pm Location: Alma Street Community Play Area, Alma Street, London E15 1QA
Free sessions will run for two weeks from 19th August until 29th August.
Tuesdays Location: Adizone, Mabley Green, Lee Conservancy Road, London E9 5RN Time: 10am-11.30am – Boys aged 7-12 years Time: 11.30am-1pm – Boys aged 13-19 years Time: 1pm-2.30pm – Girls aged 7-12 years Time: 2.30pm-4pm – Girls aged 13-19 years
Location: St Johns Park Sports Cage, Manchester Road, E14 Time: 5pm-6.30pm – Boys aged 13-19 years Time: 6.30pm-8pm – Girls
Wednesdays Location: Alma Street Community Play Area, Alma Street, London E15 1QA Time: 10am-11.30am Boys aged 7-12 years Time: 11.30am-1pm Boys aged 13-19 years Time: 1pm-2.30pm Girls aged 7-12 years Time: 2.30pm-4pm Girls aged 13-19 years
Thursdays Location: Barkantine Sports Cage, Westferry Road, E14 3pm-4.30pm – Boys aged 13-19 years 4.30pm-6pm – Girls
Fridays Location: Alma Street Community Play Area, Alma Street, London E15 1QA Time: 10am-11.30am – Boys aged 7-12 years Time: 11.30am-1pm – Boys aged 13-19 years Time: 1pm-2.30pm – Girls aged 7-12 years Time: 2.30pm-4pm – Girls aged 13-19 years