Wheelchair basketball is very much alive and well in Scotland. We are now fortunate to have two clubs, Lothian Phoenix and West of Scotland, each with two teams competing in the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association (GBWBA) leagues.
West of Scotland have been running for over 30 years, but with a recent change in the make up of their committee and coaching staff, they’ve had somewhat of a resurgence in the past year. With around 23 players regularly attending training, not only have they recently been promoted to the GBWBA Division 2 North, they are also entering a team into the GBWBA Development League to give their newest and youngest members vital experience.
West of Scotland currently trains two nights a week:
Tuesday 7pm-9pm, Senior Session, Clydebank Playdrome
Friday 6pm-8pm, Development/Junior Session, Cleveden Secondary School, Glasgow
Although only formed in 2006, Lothian Phoenix have achieved three divisional promotions in three years and their 1st team now plays in the GBWBA Division 1 North. In the upcoming season their 2nd team will be playing in Division 3 North. With a keen aim to be at the heart of the community, Lothian Phoenix are working with local schools to provide awareness and wheelchair basketball sessions during curriculum time, as well as providing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sport.During the season, Lothian Phoenix trains two nights per week:
Monday 7.30pm-9.30pm, Inveralmond Community High School, Livingston.
Thursday 7.30pm-9pm at Bathgate Academy, Bathgate.
[Currently, off-season training is operating only on Thursday nights until the season begins on Monday 23rd August.]
Both of Scotland’s wheelchair basketball clubs strive to offer an open and welcoming environment and are always keen to attract new players of all ages and abilities. If you want to know more about either club, or wheelchair basketball in general, then follow the links below. Alternatively you can pop along to one of the training nights.
SIS plans to keep you up to date with the progress of both clubs in the upcoming season, so please check the blog regularly.
Lothian Phoenix website: www.lothianphoenix.org.uk
West of Scotland website: www.westofscotland.btik.com
Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association: www.gbwba.org.uk