Residents invited to join Wheelchair Basketball Legacy Games on Sunday

 

York’s first Wheelchair Basketball Legacy Games is opening its doors to residents who would like to try the exciting sport of Wheelchair Basketball.
The event takes place at York College on Sunday 20 December from 10am to 4pm and is accessible to all.

wheelchair basketball

Local Wheelchair Basketball club, the York Sharks are welcoming players of all ages and abilities by holding two tournaments on the day, one for league players and the other for those who wish to have a go or develop their skills.

The day will showcase the sport, which plays to the same rules as Basketball by players seated in wheelchairs. Anyone who wishes to take up the activity will be able to find out more about the club and their regular practice sessions at Joseph Rowntree School.

Lee Fawcett, an ex Great Britain and Paralympic player will be attending to help inspire participants. He will be playing in a demonstration game from 12.20pm to 1.20pm, where Tees Valley Titans (division one) will take on Leeds Spiders (premier league).
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Disability sports on show as part of Celebrating Ability Week

A fun packed week of exciting sports, physical activities and courses are lined up to encourage more York residents into disability sport as part of York’s fifth Celebrating Activity Week, Monday 26 October to Sunday 1 November.

Wheelchair basketball

The new programme, co-ordinated by the council’s Sport and Active Leisure team, offers a wide range of taster sessions for disabled children and adults. It includes a full day of sports coaching and fun at Energise, with different afternoons dedicated to both Deaf and Hard of Hearing sport and Visually Impaired sport.

This year, for the first time, sessions are also taking place at 10 different local sports clubs and organisations who are inviting disabled residents through their doors to try what’s on offer. These sessions include Inclusive Cycling at York Sports Village, Tennis at the University of York, Wigginton Tennis Club and David Lloyd Sports Centre, Wheelchair Basketball at Joseph Rowntree School, Deaf Badminton at York Railway Institute and Bowlsability at New Earswick Bowls Club. There will also be a new practical session for young people to help develop wheelchair manoeuvring skills.

A Snooker taster session is planned at York Railway Institute, Queen Street, between 9.30am and 11.30am on Saturday 31 October, led by qualified World Snooker coach, Kevin Gall. It is hoped that enough interest will be shown to enable the launch of a new Inclusive Snooker Club at the venue.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “Celebrating Activity Week offers a fantastic opportunity to find out about the many disability sports in York taking place throughout the year and to make new friends. All adults should be aiming to do 150 minutes of physical activity a week and this event will help many to find ways they enjoy of doing just that.”

This year the programme will include a number of short courses for support workers, parents, carers, health professionals, volunteers, coaches and PE teachers which aim to raise awareness and confidence in delivering sports based activities to disabled people.

For more information about Celebrating Activity week visit www.york.gov.uk/celebratingability or call 01904 553377.