Youthtown Partners with Basketball Auckland

Youthtown has partnered with Basketball Auckland in an effort to encourage inner city basketball enthusiasts to get active with the help from a Tall Black who began his career at Youthtown.

The Youthtown City Basketball Club will join Basketball Auckland’s four other Auckland-based satellite clubs offering a range of basketball programmes for youth who don’t have access to a local team or club.

Tall Black guard Lindsay Tait will run these programmes and offer coaching advice to participating basketball fans.

The basketball programme will be run from Youthtown’s central branch on Nelson Street from February 2012 for anyone in years 7 to 13 who is keen to get involved. Along with in-house coaching programmes and competitions there will be an opportunity for Youthtown players to compete against teams from other satellite clubs on a Saturday morning.

Lindsay Tait is excited to be back at the place where his 21 year career in basketball first began.

“I started shooting hoops at Youthtown when I was only eight years old,” says Lindsay. “It feels great to be back in the gym working with these kids who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to play.

“After 21 years of playing it’s great to be in a position to share my love and passion for the sport with these kids and show them exactly what they can achieve if they put their minds to it,” he adds.

Youthtown CEO, Keith Thorpe, says: “We are delighted to have entered into a partnership with Basketball Auckland. It fits perfectly with the Youthtown philosophy of enriching the lives of young New Zealanders through physical, social and creative experiences.

“Youthtown has a long history with the sport, running basketball leagues in Auckland for many years before Basketball Auckland was established. We look forward to getting as many young, aspiring players through the door as possible and watching their progress like we have done with Lindsay.”

Basketball Auckland General Manager John McGregor is excited about the partnership with Youthtown which will encourage youth participation in the game.

“This opportunity will enable Basketball Auckland to continue to develop and strengthen the sport among youth within Auckland,” he adds. “Given Youthtown’s history and past experience it seemed like a logical move and acquiring the services of Tall Black and NBL player Lindsay Tait is a real coup.”

For more information about Youthtown, go to www.youthtown.org.nz. For programme or open day information and to register, go to www.basketballauckland.co.nz.