THE Blades are aiming to give basketball a massive boost.

The Colchester Basketball Steering Group, known as The Blades, has been formed to highlight the benefits and opportunities that basketball can offer to the local community.

Led by Jonathan Neill (Managing Director, Sportsafe UK), Jerry Carter (Chairman, Colchester Cobras Basketball) and Mark Lloyd (Performance Basketball Coach, University of Essex) the committee is now 13 strong and represents business, the current basketball community and education.

The aim of the steering group is to represent the interests of local basketball clubs, increase participation and improve the standards of play, coaching and officiating in basketball in Colchester and North Essex.

Steering group chairman Neill said: “It’s a very exciting time, everyone in the group is committed to creating new opportunities and making Colchester the home of basketball in the east.

“The popularity of basketball rivals that of more traditional sports such as football, rugby and cricket in some parts of the UK, and Colchester has that potential, with the whole community becoming involved.”

In the first year the group will be running summer camps to introduce basketball to the next generation of players, create a new programme of a coach education and locate a central venue in Colchester.

The University of Essex have already taken a lead in the development of basketball with a very significant investment in their university performance teams.

The players in the Essex Blades team benefit from cutting-edge sports science, strength and conditioning coaching, and lifestyle advice that is the comparable with that delivered at the top professional teams and universities in the US.

Performance sport director at the university, Dr Dave Parry said: “We have made basketball one of our first three focus sports, and we have already commenced a talent development programme that will serve as the pinnacle of a talent pathway for young basketball players in Colchester and the wider region to combine excellence in their education and sporting pursuits.

“We have further exciting plans for investment in basketball facilities and infrastructure that will make us one of the top centres for the sport within the UK.”

The steering group is still in need of support. If you have an interest in basketball and would like to be involved please contact jon@sportsafeuk.com.