By Deanna Corrieri | posted on January 14, 2021
THE basketball courts of Albany’s Leisure and Aquatic Centre were filled with cheers and shoe-squeaks as young girls practised basketball skills taught to them by the coaches of Her Hoops.
This is the second time the all-female coaches, all professional players from the USA and Australia, have come to Albany to bring their basketball program to an excited group of girls wanting to learn the ropes of basketball.
Her Hoops Director Makaliah Dyer said they want to give girls and opportunity to play and have fun.
“We thought it was a great opportunity to create something just for girls. They all have great attitudes and are so energetic,” she said.
The four-hour sessions ran over two-days and the girls were able to learn vital basketball skills and techniques that were then put into practise in three-on-three and five-on-five games that ran for five minutes each.
“The girls are amazing, they are always excited and grateful,” Ms Dyer said.
“We [the coaches] all have a passion for the game, and we wanted to create the same situation that we had in the States and in Australia, a program for kids who wouldn’t have the same experiences.”
Prizes were given out at the end of the program to those who showed spirit, strength and performed well, as well as team prizes from the three-on-three and five-on-five sessions.
Her Hoops hopes to return to Albany at the end of the year to run another program and continue running the program twice a year from then on.
