Basketball Northern Ireland (BNI) is celebrating the remarkable success of its Women in Sport programme, She Got Game, which has seen an inspiring surge in female participation and empowerment. The programme, aimed at promoting inclusivity and fostering a sense of community among women through basketball, has exceeded expectations.
The She Got Game programme was inspired and evolved through Belfast based Belfast Bulls “Ma Bulls” Basketball programme for social basketball.
Ma Bulls Coach Stephen Fox said “Ma Bulls was developed as a result recognising the difficulties women and girls have in finding time, a positive learning environment and social space for basketball. Social basketball is not the same commitment that our team / club competition have. We started off in a half court setting and within a few weeks our group grew to over 38 women. Each week we have an average of 24 turning up and they have set the tone for what they want to get out of their time. Which is really important for them to buy into the process and enjoy their time on the court. It is fantastic to see the beginnings now of a social basketball community where women from across NI can come together, share experiences and learn something new in the sport, while keeping it social and fun for all involved.”
Niamh Mac Manus, the Programme Coordinator for Basketball NI, expressed her excitement and satisfaction after visiting the clubs participating in She Got Game. “Witnessing the incredible energy and commitment from the women involved in She Got Game has been truly empowering. I am impressed by their enthusiasm, determination, and the sense of camaraderie that has developed within the programme. It is a joy to witness the positive influence of this programme” she stated.
She Got Game, supported by Sport NI, has been instrumental in creating opportunities for women over the age of 18 and all backgrounds to engage not only in basketball but also in social interactions that transcend the court. The programme has successfully established a welcoming environment where women can come together, share experiences, and build lasting connections while increasing activity levels through playing Basketball.
Enya Henry from Magherafelt Titans said “We have girls who had played maybe twenty years ago now back playing and the programme has really brought the knowledge of women’s basketball back up in the local area.”
As a testament to the programmes triumphs, Basketball NI is gearing up for the first She Got Game Blitz. This Wednesday, Olympia Leisure Centre, the home venue of Ma Bull’s, will host over 50 women from Ma Bulls, Newry Fliers and Magherafelt Titans. The Blitz is an opportunity for all the women to come together and have a chance to play basketball in a less competitive environment while also developing some knowledge from guest speakers Physiotherapist Dervla Murphy and S&C Coach Catherine Dolliver. The blitz promises to be a vibrant celebration of unity, sportsmanship, and the incredible achievements of the She Got Game participants.
Helen Cranney, Coach from Newry Fliers said “We are really looking forward to the blitz to be a little bit competitive while keeping it social”. She said that the She Got Game programme is a “model for leadership to remind young women that basketball and sport is for women at all ages and abilities and to come along and get involved”.
Basketball NI is commitment to creating a platform where women can showcase their skills, celebrate their achievements, and inspire others to embrace the empowering world of women’s basketball.