The Mandurah Basketball Association will be launching a new project on Wednesday called 'Basketball for All Abilities Mandurah' (BAM), to make the sport accessible.
An MBA spokesperson said the program would open the sport up for players with differing levels of ability.
"It's a great opportunity for Mandurah Basketball to provide a program that is needed for our friends with physical and mental disabilities."
The program will be led by Megan Thompson and MBA's other development coaches Cousteau Kyle, Bronte Corke and Fred Williams. All coaches are current Mandurah Magic NBL1 players who have a wealth of knowledge to share about basketball.
Thompson, who is affectionately known as 'Coach Thommo', is passionate about an inclusive community in basketball and has been working alongside the City of Mandurah to develop a program.
"It's an area in the community with our sport that we've missed," Thompson said. "In my role, it's important to me to find something that accommodates everybody."
Thompson told the Mail the program was inspired by the City's 'Come and Try' event, where local sports clubs hosted community members who wanted to have a go at a new sport.
MBA hosted an all abilities basketball session at Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) and the turnout showed a demand for future sessions.
"It was fantastic - it was so much fun," she said. "It was our inspiration to move forward. At the end of the session, people were asking 'when is the next one?' "
Thompson, who is also a former teacher, said if the MBA could provide basketball for everybody, that's what they wanted to do.
"Our motto about basketball is 'it's everyone's game' - we are really passionate about that. Basketball helped me to see the world, and do so many incredible things."
The weekly program will run for 90 minutes, and focus on developing skills of the game.
"We will do some passing, dribbling, shooting - lots of fun skills, and then we'll also do drills, so we are all working together," Thompson said.
"Then we set up the scoreboard, bring out the player singlets and have a game of basketball. We would love to eventually get a competition running."
Thompson added that the mental and physical health benefits of sport were a big highlight of basketball for her.
"Let's all enjoy time together - especially on the back of COVID. We get out and move, we get that positive adrenaline and endorphins going. It's so good for mental health."
For more information on joining BAM, visit the Mandurah Basketball Association website or contact coach Thommo at megan@mandurahmagic.com.au.
Samantha Ferguson
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
Samantha Ferguson is a journalist at the Mandurah Mail. She is an entertainment, sport, crime, community and education journalist with a special interest in investigative pieces and human interest stories.
