Although the season has finished for the Bears, training and practice hasn’t stopped for the Bear Cubs team. All the hard work has paid off for five members of the Bears Cubs, as they have been selected to play for the West Midlands in the under 15’s team and under 19’s team.  The junior players will be up against the best juniors from all over the nation in the Lord Taverner’s Regional Junior Championships, played at Worcester Arena on the 3^rd and 4^th August.

“So thrilled and proud of all our junior players who have been selected this year” said coach Masterson, “last year we had two players selected and to now have five of the cubs being picked is a testament to the hard work the juniors and coaches have put in this season.  This year we have Tom Masterson jnr, Ellan Fraser and Nathan Leese selected for under 15’s, and Jack Sheehy and Aaron Grant in the Under 19’s team.”

The Bears this season are looking to enter a junior team into the British Wheelchair Basketball League for the first time in their history, following a major recruitment drive last season.  “ We started a new Saturday session last season, to try and make it easier for parents to bring the kids along, and it seems to be working.  We also took the decision to offer the sessions free of charge to also make it more appealing to parents as well.” added Coach Masterson “ We are still a bit thin on numbers for the Junior Team, so again this year we are actively seeking to recruit more players to the juniors alongside our women’s team and National League teams.  The great thing about this sport is that the women and men play together in the same teams in all the leagues, except the women’s league.   In fact with the rules of the league, it is in fact more beneficial to have more women players in the squad.”

The Bears are looking to recruit disabled or injured players, both male and female, plus any able-bodied player who fancies trying a new sport.  The specialist wheelchairs are provided and the Saturday session will run all over the summer period at Warwickshire College Sport centre, Henley-in-Arden.

“The opportunities for the Juniors and women players are tremendous in our sport,” Said coach Masterson “The juniors today can get offered scholarships and help with Universities if they get recognised Internationally, plus players get financial help also if they get recognised Internationally at all ages.”