Surf Coast basketball seeks senior players for CBL charge

LARGE amounts of participation amongst the junior ranks of the Surf Coast Basketball Association may be the catalyst for the club to have its first men’s and women’s squads.

The Surf Coast Chargers are in the midst of developing their inaugural senior teams in the open-aged Country Basketball League (CBL) competition, with the club seeking expressions of interest prior to the trials needed to select the two sides.

In addition to the minimum requirement of players, the Chargers are also looking into new coaches for the respective teams.

“We’re quite a new program and we’re rapidly expanding,” said Chargers club president Dave Scott.

“We have been rapidly expanding and we have seen good growth in kids at the junior level.

“As a part of our Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL) expansion we will increase three-fold in numbers for our junior Chargers.”

The club itself has been operating since 2019 starting with just two teams, but missed out on large chunks of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the construction of their new stadium.

Nevertheless, the Chargers are getting ready to the enter the 2021-22 season with a bang.

Trials to decide the squad will begin once sufficient interest is gathered, and from there an independent selections panel will decipher the personnel that will represent the light and navy blue uniforms.

Scott has indicated that the club’s senior sides will become the latest members of the South West Division of the CBL, which includes towns such as Bellarine, Warrnambool and even Mount Gambier.

The president also highlighted the community aspect of joining the Chargers organisation, noting that inclusion, respect, effort, community and enjoyment are just some of the values the club endorses.

“The element of being part of a team and what it can achieve together provides a good opportunity for fun, enjoyment and team morale, as well as opportunities to further development,” he said.

“Senior sides in the area also gives the Surf Coast basketball community a chance to come down and spectate some of their local talent.”

Home games will continue to be hosted at the Wurdi Baierr Stadium and the upcoming CBL season should run as usual from October through to February.

Enquiries or expressions of interest are required by July 31 and can be sent to either [email protected] or Adam Forde at 0434 635 020.