The growth of the women's game in our region has been a longstanding priority for the City Of Leeds Basketball Club, and this season we are seeing more than ever, how that commitment to young women is paying off.
Coach Katie Lamond & Coach Sian Wood both played for COLBC as juniors with Katie transitioning to coaching in 2015, while Sian has joined us in the first steps of her coaching journey this season.
We are very privileged as a club, that the young girls in our women's programme have the opportunity to be coached by two empowering female coaches, who have been through the same experiences as them. Alongside Coach Ben Allen and Keano Pryce, the women's programme is going from strength to strength and has seen 4 wins from the first 5 games of the Junior National League season.
Sian is delighted to be back on the floor with the next generation saying:
"It feels amazing to be coaching back on the same court I grew up on with Coach Allen and Coach Lamond. Basketball was not only my second home but a place where I built strong friendships, had lots of laughs and improved on my skills. I now have the privilege of creating that same environment for all the girls at City of Leeds and it's very rewarding to see them progress and further find their confidence week on week."
Katie, going in to her 10th season with the club still retains the passion for seeing our girls thrive:
I"t's around 10 years ago now that I became a part of this club. I remember every coach, every training, every match, every moment. This club and everyone involved was such an integral part of my personal and professional development. I remember how important my time was here as a player, and the person I am now because of it. To be able to offer something of the same to those involved in the programme now genuinely feels unbelievable. To potentially offer that same feeling, experiences and unforgettable moments to other young people is incredible."
COLBC Director Matt Newby, gave a nod to the growth and importance of the Women's side of the programme after a great start to the season:
"The game requires an injection of female role models to inspire the next generation of girls to pick up a ball and enjoy the sport.
Katie is a longstanding member of the programme and continues to give a great deal to our pathway. Having developed as a player and evolved as a coach on our courts, it is great to see another young woman following in her footsteps. Sian has recently joined us as a member of our community and JNL pathway staff, and is already inspiring young women within Allerton High School, while taking every opportunity to improve under the mentorship under all the coaches in the programme.
Both Katie and Sian’s stories highlight the importance of giving back to the game and we hope to recruit a few more like-minded individuals over the next year."
Any young female players or aspiring coaches who wish to be involved in the game, are encouraged to get in touch now by emailing foundation@cityofleedsbasketballclub.co.uk.