Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) is excited to announce that Hoops in Schools will be returning to Taranaki in 2023 for the second consecutive year.
Hoops in Schools is a BBNZ programme that partners with schools, funders, local basketball associations and other basketball providers. The concept puts more quality, fit-for-purpose hoops in schools so that tamariki and rangatahi are more active and having fun playing hoops in their local communities.
This announcement follows the programmes’ successful roll-out of 24 hoops across 12 Taranaki schools earlier this year, with each school receiving new basketball hoops and in-school coaching – courtesy of Basketball Taranaki and the Taranaki Airs team – as part of this initiative. Support was provided by New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT), who delivered funding for both the infrastructure and the in-schools coaching delivery.
Kevin Fenwick, General Manager of Basketball Taranaki says that NZCT’s funding support has helped make a huge difference to these schools this year.
“We are thrilled that New Zealand Community Trust saw the value in installing these hoops across the region earlier this year and they have come on board for another round,” says Fenwick.
“All the feedback we have received to date, shows that the hoops have had a really positive impact on our communities and have created the opportunity for our tamariki and rangatahi to get out and be active.”
In 2023, Basketball Taranaki in collaboration with BBNZ and Sport Taranaki – and with continued funding assistance from NZCT – will install an additional 24 hoops across selected Taranaki schools.
Once again, every school that is part of the roll-out will receive up to six weeks of in-schools coaching delivery courtesy of the Taranaki Airs. And for the first time since the programme’s inception in 2018, schools can nominate themselves for the programme – as long as they can meet specific criteria to help determine those schools most in need. Ideally these are schools will have experienced significant growth in basketball, or have the potential to do so within both the school and wider community.
Cole Brown, General Manager of the Taranaki Steelformers Airs says that the team and players are pleased to be involved in this programme again next year.
“The Steelformers Airs are excited to be involved in the Hoops in Schools programme; basketball is continuing to grow in our community and the program allows greater access to our participants ensuring that basketball is a game for all,” says Brown.
“With strong participation and expanding programs in place, the future is looking bright for basketball in this region.”
Daniel Dawick, Facilities and Insights Lead for BBNZ says that Hoops in Schools continues to provide sustainable opportunities for everyone to just have a go – get out and about, have fun and get active.
“Basketball continues to gather momentum across the Taranaki region, which is testament to the fantastic mahi of Basketball Taranaki and the exhilarating season we just witnessed from the Taranaki Airs,” says Dawick.
“More tamariki and rangatahi across Taranaki are wanting to pick up a ball and hoop with friends and whānau, but we’re often finding that many of those wanting to play are restricted by either poor access or a lack of suitable equipment. We know the growth and popularity of the sport isn’t going to slow down, so initiatives such as Hoops in Schools and Hoops in Parks are playing their part in addressing some of the obvious challenges we’ll continue to face in the short and long term future.
“We’re well over 100 hoops installed across the motu and we don’t plan on slowing down any time soon.”
Expression Of Interest Form
BBNZ is asking for all Taranaki schools who are interested in being part of the 2023 Hoops in Schools rollout, to complete an Expression of Interest form at http://bbnz.link/EOI
The EOI will remain open until 5pm, Friday 2nd December, with a selection panel made up of representatives from BBNZ, Basketball Taranaki, Sport Taranaki and the Taranaki Airs to determine the final recipients.
